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CENTENNIAL  IN  NEW  BEDFORD. 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS 


HON.  WILLIAM  W.  CRAPO, 


DELIVERED  ON  THE  OCCASION  OF  THE 


CELEBRATION     IN    NEW    BEDFORD 


FOURTH  OP  JULY,  1876. 

TO  WHICH  ARE  ADDED  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  CELEBRA- 
TION, AND  AN  APPENDIX. 


nrji.rMiKi)  uv  ohdeh  ok  thi:  (  ity  ohxcfl. 


NKW  BEDFOIJl): 

K.'Antiion V  Si  Sons,  PniNTKits  lo  rrir    (  ir^. 
1876. 


Centennial  in  New  Bedford. 


TABLE   OF   CONTENTS. 


Page 

Order  of  Council, 7 

Advertisement  of  Committee, 8 

Introduction, 9 

Address, 17 

APPENDIX. 

Deed  from  Wesamequen  and  Wamsutta  to  William  Bradford  and 

others, 59 

Order  of  Incorporation  of  the  Town  of  Dartmouth, 60 

Territorial  Limits  of  Dartmouth, 61 

Russell  Family, 61 

Primitive  Whaling, fi4 

Memoranda  in  relation  to  the  Whale  Fishery  and  Commerce  of 

'Sew  Bedford,  by  Abraham  Shearman,  Jr., 67 

Memoranda  in  relation  to  the  Early  History  of  Nevr  Bedford,  by 

Abraham  Shearman,  Jr., 71 

The  Ten-Acre  Lot, 74 

The  Stars  and  Stripes  in  the  Thames, 76 

Act  of  Incorporation  of  the  Town  of  New  Bedford, 79 

Act  of  Incorporation  of  the  Town  of  Fairhaveu, 81 

Line  between  New  Bedford  and  Dartmouth  altered, 82 

Part  of  Dartmouth  annexed  to  New  Bedford, 83 

Part  of  Acushnet  annexed  to  New  Bedford 84 

General  Grey's  Raid, 85 

Town  Meeting  in  1814, 86 

New  Bedford  in  the  War  of  1812-15, 87 

Ship  Rebecca, 90 

Interesting  Town  Meeting, 92 

New  Bedford  in  1845, ; 96 

Whalers  Destroyed  by  the  Confederate  Cruisers, 112 

9 


4  TABLE    OF    CONTENTS. 

Paob 

New  Bedford  Free  Public  Library, 114 

New  Bedford  In  the  Civil  War, 130 

Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Monument,    .  135 

Roll  of  Honor,  .       ...  137 

Public  Schools  of  New  Bedford, 149 

Public  Schools  of  New  Bedford  iu  the  Centennial, 157 

High  School  House  Dedication, 159 

Description  of  the  New  High  School  House, 167 

Finances  and  Taxation,     170 

Mayors  of  New  Bedford, 173 

Government  of  the  City,  1876, 174 


Proceedings  of  the  City  Council 


AND  OF  THE 


COMMITTEE  OF  ARRANGEMENTS. 


Cttg  of  m&j  BrtforU. 

Ix  TiOAUD  OF  Aldermen, 

August  15th,  1876. 

Orileral,  That  the  proceedings  had  upon  the  occasion  of  the  Munici- 
pal Celebration  of  our  Centennial  Anniversary  be  published,  and 
that  His  Honor  the  Mayor,  and  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  the 
Fourth  oi"  July  Cklehration,  be  a  committee  to  carry  this  order 
into  eftect. 

Adopted  in  concurrence. 


The  committee  of  the  City  Government,  charged  by  the  coun- 
cil's order  of  August  lutli  with  the  duty  of  arranging  for  publica- 
tion the  proceedings  upon  the  occasion  of  the  Municipal  Celebra- 
tion of  our  Centennial  Anniversary,  present  herein  the  result  of 
their  labors. 

A  brief  introduction  precedes  the  address  of  the  Hon.  William 
W.  Crapo  ;  and  in  an  appendix  to  his  interesting  and  highly  valu- 
able Historical  Discourse,  such  documents  are  given  connected 
with  the  early  history  and  with  the  growth  and  progress  of  our 
city,  as  seemed  calculated  to  gratify  the  desire  for  further  infor- 
mation upon  these  subjects  so  vividly  awakened  by  that  admirable 
contribution  to  our  local  annals.  In  the  discharge  of  our  duties 
we  have  been  materially  assisted  by  our  fellow-citizen  James  B. 
Congdon,  whose  large  collections  and  intimate  acquaintance  with 
our  local  history  have  contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  the  value 
and  interest  of  our  centennial  volume. 

AlJRAIIAM    H.    HOWLAND,    Jk. 

William  T.  Soule. 


•. 


The  Centennial  in  New  Bedford. 


I 


INTRODUCTORY. 

The  arrangements  for  the  celebration  of  the  Centennial  Anni- 
versary of  our  National  Independence  were  commenced  by  the 
passage  of  an  order,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy. 

CENTENNIAL  IN  NEW  BEDFORD. 

Citj  of  Wein  13elifotii. 

In  Common  Council, 

April  6th,  1876. 

Ordered,  That  a  committee  of  six  from  this  branch,  with  such  as  the 
Aldermen  may  join,  be  appointed  a  committee  on  Fourth  of  July 
celebration. 

Adopted  in  concurrence. 

Committee — Aldermen  Soule,  Ilawes,  and  Baylies,  and  Couucilmeu 
Taylor,  Rowland,  Denison,  Beard,  Pitman,  and  Wilbur. 

An  appropriation  of  four  thousand  dollars  was  made  by  the 
Council  to  meet  the  expenditures  of  the  committee. 

It  did  not  need  the  recommendations  of  the  State  and  United 
States  governments  to  lead  the  committee  to  give  careful  attention 
to  that  part  of  their  duties  tliat  consisted  in  providing  for  an  ad- 
dress suitable  to  the  occasion.  After  some  progress  had  beeu 
made  in  the  negotiations  for  an  orator,  the  circular  of  which  the 
following  is  a  copy  was  received  from  the  Secretary's  Department 
of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

B 


10  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Commoniuealtfj  of  fHassacljusctts. 

Secretary's  Department, 

Boston,  June  I3th,  1876. 
To  THE  City  Clerk: 

Sir,— I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  an  order  of  the  Legis- 
lature of  Massachusetts,  which  has  this  day  been  received  iu  this  de- 
partment, and  a  copy  of  the  Resolution  of  Congress  therein  referred  to. 
Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

HENRY  B.  PEIRCE,  Secretary. 

Commonfaiealtf)  of  fHassacljusttts. 

House  of  Representatives,  April  27,  1876. 
Ordered,  That  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  transmit  to  the 
Clerks  of  the  several  cities  and  towns  in  the  Commonwealth,  a  copy 
of  the  Joint  Resolution  of  Congress  on  the  celebration  of  the  Centen- 
nial jn  the  several  counties  or  towns,  transmitted  to  the  Senate  by  his 
Excellency  the  Governor,  April  24th,  1876. 
Adopted.     Sent  up  for  concurrence. 

GEO.  A.  MARDEN,  Clerk. 

Senate,  April  28,  1876. 
Concurred. 

S.  N.  GIFFORD,  Clerk. 

[Public  Resolution  No.  1.] 

Joint  Resolution  on  the  celebration  of  the  Centennial  iu  the  several 

counties  or  towns. 

Be  it  resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  in  Congress  assembled,  That  it  be,  and  is  hereby 
recommended  b}'  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  to  the 
people  of  the  several  States  that  they  assemble  in  their  several  coun- 
ties or  towns  on  the  approaching  Centennial  Anniversary  of  our  Na- 
tional Independence,  and  that  they  cause  to  have  delivered  on  such 
day  an  historical  sketch  of  said  county  or  town  from  its  formation, 
and  that  a  copy  of  said  sketch  may  be  filed,  in  print  or  manuscript, 
in  the  Clerk's  office  of  said  county,  and  an  additional  copy,  in  print  or 
manuscript,  be  filed  iu  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  to  the 
intent  that  a  complete  record  may  thus  be  obtained  of  the  progress  of 
our  institutions  during  the  First  Centennial  of  their  existence. 

Approved  March  13,  1876. 

With  entire  unanimity  the  committee  lixed  upon  the  Hon. 
AVilliam  W.  Crapo,  of  this  city,  member  of  Congress  from  the 
first  representative  district,  to  perform  this  honorable  and  important 
service.     Not  only  tlie   eminent  abilities  of  Mr.  Crapo  led  the 


MUNICIPAL   PROCEEDINGS.  11 


!.„,.,.„,. ...,.-„..„. 

^V  as  to  the  character  of  the  address,  and  the  views  of  the  General 
^H  Government  as  expressed  in  the  resohition  of  Congress :  the 
^B  success  of  liis  effort  in  the  same  line  of  literary  labor  in  the  cele- 
^B  bration  of  our  Municipal  Bicentennial  in  1864,  pointed  to  him  as 
^H  one  possessing  rare  qualifications  for  the  work,  and  the  committee 
^y         were  highly  gratified  wlien  he  consented  to  undertake  it. 

The  orator  being  secured,  the  committee  gave  their  attention 
to  the  other  arrangements  proper  for  the  occasion.  The  result  of 
their  labors  is  shown  by  the  programme  which  they  put  forth,  of 
which  the  following  is  a  copy  of  the  principal  features. 

One  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  our  National  Independence. 

July  4th,  1876. 
PROGRAMME. 

BELLS. 

The  bells  of  the  various  churches  will  be  rung  at  sunrise,  noon,  and 
sunset. 


A  National  Salute  will  be  fired  at  sunrise,  noon,  and  sunset,  by 
Lieut.  H.  H.  Fisher. 

BASE   BALL. 

At  8  o'clock  a  game  of  Base  Ball  will  be  played  on  the  Common 
between  the  Taunton  Base  Ball  Club,  of  Taunton,  and  the  King  Philip 
Club,  of  Rockland,  for  a  prize  of  $250. 

PUOCESSIOX. 

At  10  o'clock  a  Grand  Procession  will  be  formed  on  City  Hall 
Square,  under  the  direction  of  Cap t.  Lucius  H.  Morrill,  Chief  Marshal. 

ORATIOX. 

An  oration  will  be  delivered  at  Liberty  Hall  by  Hon.  "William  W.  Crapo. 

nr.GATTA. 

The  Regatta  will  take  place  on  the  Acushnet  river,  starting  from  a 
line  drawn  from  the  north  end  of  Fish  Lsland  to  the  George  Howland 
wharf,  the  course  to  be  northeasterly  about  one  mile  to  the  station 
buoy  and  return.     The  races  will  be  in  the  following  order: 

First,  for  single  scull,  1st  prixe,  §40;  2d  prize,  $20;  3cl  prize,  $10. 

Second,  for  whaleboats,  1st  prize,  $60;  2d  prize,  #30;  3d  prize,  #16. 


12  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Third,  for  double-oared  working  boats,  1st  prize,  §40 ;  2d  prize,  $20. 
The  tub  race  will  follow  that  of  the  working  boats  near  the  same 
locality.     1st  prize,  $10;  2d  prize,  $5. 

BALLOOX. 

At  5i  o'clock  a  Grand  Balloon  Ascension  on  the  Cominon,  by  Prof. 
James  R.  Allen,  aeronaut,  of  Providence,  in  his  celebrated  balloon 
Monarch. 

FIREWORKS. 

At  8  o'clock,  on  the  Common,  a  Grand  Display  of  Fireworks  will 
form  a  fitting  termination  of  the  festivities  of  the  day. 

WM.  T.  SOULE, 
JON.  C.  UAWES, 
JOHN  B.  BAYLIES, 
JOHN  P.  TAYLOR, 
WM.  H.  PITMAN, 
LEMUEL  C.  WILBUR, 
JON.  ROWLAND,  Jr., 
WM.  A.  BEARD, 
HENRY  C.  DENISON, 

Committee  of  Arrangements. 


The  arrangements  made  by  the  committee  were  carried  into 
execution  in  a  manner  that  gave  great  satisfaction  to  the  citizens, 
and  reflected  much  credit  upon  all  who  were  concerned  in  the  plan 
or  its  performance. 

The  procession  was  one  of  the  most  attractive  that  had  ever 
been  seen  in  our  city.  We  present  its  details  as  published  in  the 
newspapers  of  the  5th. 

FIRST    DIVISION. 

Detachment  of  Police. 

Martland's  Band,  of  Brockton,  William  J.  Martland  Leader,  25  men. 

Capt.  Lucius  H.  Morrill,  Chief  Marshal. 

Col.  Samuel  C.  Hart,  Aid. 

New  Bedford  City  Guards,  Capt.  Daniel  A.  Butler,  36  men. 

William  Logan  Rodman  Post  1,  G.  A.  R.,  William  G.  Davis  S.  V.  C, 

50  men. 

Robert  G.  Shaw  Post  146,  G.  A.  R.,  George  T.  Fisher  P   C,  16  men. 

Schooler  Guards,  Capt.  James  R.  Reynolds,  32  men. 

Disabled  Veterans  iu  Carriages. 


MUNICIPAL   PBOCEEDINGS.  13 

SECOND   DIVISION. 

Smith's  American  Band,  Israel  Smitli  Leader,  24  men. 

Frank  H.  Forbes,  Marshal. 

Major  James  F.  Chipman,  Commander  Centennial  Battalion;  Edward 

T.  Chapman,  Adjutant;  Charles  S.  Paisler,  Quartermaster. 

Centennial  Guards,  Leopold  Bartel  Captain,  Ezra  K.  Bly  1st  Lieutenant, 

William  O.  Cross  2d  Lieutenant,  40  men. 

Yankee  Volunteers,  S.  C.  Spooner  Captain,  Robert  W.  Taber 

Lieutenant,  20  men. 

Loyal  Orange  Lodge  No.  40,  Samuel  Thompson  Master,  32  men. 

American  Protestant  Association,  James  Lowe  Marshal,  20  men. 

Mayor,  Orator  of  the  Day,  and  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 

Arrangements. 

City  Government. 

Officers  of  United  States  Service. 

Invited  Guests. 

THIKD    DIVISION. 

Union  Cornet  Band,  Gustavus  Rau  Leader,  20  men. 

Thomas  J.  Gifford,  Marshal. 

Engineers  of  the  Fire  Department. 

Pioneer  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  Philip  M.  Tripp  Foreman,  21  men. 

Azores  Band,  G.  A.  Gustin  Leader,  20  men. 
Zachariah  Ilillman   Steam  Fire  Engine  Company,  No.  5,  William  A. 

Russell  Foreman,  22  men. 

Hancock  Engine  Company,  No.  'J,  keuben  Washburn  Foreman,  23  men. 

Truckmen's  Association,  Holder  R.  Tripp  Captain,  Peter  Crapo 

and  Francis  Brownell  Lieutenants,  William  J.  Tripp 

Standard  Bearer,  60  men. 

Procession  of  Trades. 

There  was  perfect  order  throughout  ;  the  music  was  abundant 
and  delightful ;  the  military  companies  never  appeared  to  belter 
advantage  ;  the  firemen  in  their  neat  and  appropriate  costumes, 
orderly  and  prompt  in  their  movements,  told  of  the  boldness  and 
efficiency  of  that  branch  of  our  municipal  service  ;  and  the  truck- 
men and  the  procession  of  the  trades  were  striking  and  interesting 
features  of  our  centennial  celebration.  In  short,  all  who  took 
part  in  the  parade  seemed  to  have  done  all  in  their  power  to  give 
efficiency,  attractiveness  and  impressiveness  to  the  exhibition. 

There  were  two  of  the  numerous  divisions  of  the  grand  pro- 
cession which  from  their  peculiar  character  and  the  perfection  of 
everything  that  belonged  to  them,  constituted  features  of  the  dis- 


14  CE^•TE^'^-IAL  celebkatiox. 

play  in  a  high  degree  appropriate  and  striking.  Nothing  could  be 
more  appropriate  to  the  occasion  than  the  presence  in  the  line  of  a 
body  of  Centennial  Guards,  and  a  company  of  New  Bedford  Fire- 
men with  a  splendid  and  perfect  steam  fire  engine.  The  guards 
were  there,  the  firemen  were  there,  and  the  engine  was  there  ;  and 
the  people  of  New  Bedford  will  not  soon  forget  the  strong  and  de- 
lightful impression  made  by  their  presence  and  completeness  :  the 
guards  forming  a  vivid  and  faithful  picture  of  the  revolutionary 
period,  and  of  the  men  by  whom  its  battles  were  fought ;  the 
engine,  with  its  environment  of  young,  hardy,  resolute  and  well 
trained  firemen,  and  its  three-pair  team  of  noble  horses,  seemingly 
as  proud  of  their  work  and  position  as  if  they  were  attached  to 
the  war-chariot  of  a  Grecian  general,  by  its  artistic  beauty  and  by 
its  rare  combination  of  the  skill  of  the  artisan  and  the  genius  of 
the  engineer,  presenting  a  striking  and  significant  monument  of 
the  progress  in  the  one  hundred  years  of  our  national  life,  not 
only  in  our  methods  of  dealing  with  the  fire  king,  but  in  the  whole 
domain  of  science  and  the  mechanic  arts. 

The  boat  races  were  .exciting  and  satisfactory.  They  were  wit- 
nessed by  a  vast  multitude.  These  exhibitions  are  always  attract- 
ive. A  Cornell  crew  could  not  have  handled  a  New  Bedford 
whaleboat  with  the  skill  and  success  of  our  New  Bedford  oarsmen. 

The  display  of  fireworks  upon  the  common,  to  use  the  words  of 
the  committee,  "formed  a  fitting  termination  to  the  festivities  of 
the  day." 

An  accident  prevented  the  ascension  of  the  balloon.  A  suc- 
cessful ascension  a  few  days  after  made  amends  for  the  disappoint- 
ment. 

EXERCISES    AT   LIBERTY   HALL. 

The  exercises  at  Liberty  Hall  took  place  after  the  dismissal  of 
the  procession.  They  were  opened  by  a  prayer  by  Rev.  Oliver  A. 
Roberts.  This  was  followed  by  a  hymn  written  for  the  occasion, 
and  sung  by  a  quartet  composed  of  Messrs.  Wood,  Littlefield, 
Tinkham,  and  Morton.  Hon.  William  W.  Crapo  then  delivered 
his  address,  after  which,  as  the  closing  exercise,  the  choir  sang 
"The  Flag  that's  waved  a  Hundred  Years," 

The  original  hymn  follows. 


MUNICIPAL   PROCEEDINGS.  15 

HYMN  FOR   THE   CENTENNIAL. 

BY  JAMES  B.    CONGDOX. 

Eternal  Source  of  life  and  light ! 

Let  all  the  people  praise  thy  name  : 
To  thee,  enthroned  in  glory  bright, 

We  raise  our  song  with  loud  acclaim. 

God  of  the  Nations,  Sovereign  King! 

Thy  children  at  thy  footstool  kneel : 
Accept  the  sacrifice  we  bring; 

Thy  glory  in  our  hearts  reveal. 

Firm  in  thy  might  our  fathers  stood. 

Faithful  to  liberty  and  thee; 
Undaunted,  on  the  field  of  blood, 

They  struggled,  triumphed,  and  were  free. 

In  peril's  darker,  sterner  hour, 

When  treason  grasped  the  nation's  life, 

It  stood,  protected  by  thy  power, 
Victorious  in  the  deadly  strife. 

A  NATIOX  BORN  !    A  NATIOX  FREE  ! 

Its  century  of  being  filled 
With  wonders  all  proclaiming  thee, 
That  thou  hast  wrought,  that  thou  hast  willed : 

Of  these  we  sing,  with  rapture  crowned 
Our  hearts  their  grateful  homage  bring, — 

Send  to  the  skies,  with  joyful  sound. 
The  praise  of  heaven's  Eternal  King ! 

The  address  of  Mr.  Crapo,  which  we  now  present  to  our  fellow- 
citizens  and  the  country,  comes  up  to  the  high  standard  for  such 
discourses  he  has  himself  established,  and  to  the  ideal  of  the  peo- 
ple and  the  government  in  the  conception  and  recommendation  of 
the  arrangement  by  which  the  towns,  cities,  and  counties  of  the 
Union  were  to  be  provided,  through  the  instrumentality  of  the 
Centennial  Celebration  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  with 
full  and  reliable  "  historical  sketches"  of  their  respective  commu- 
nities. Such  was  the  judgment  of  those  who  heard  it  delivered  ; 
such,  we  feel  assured,  will  be  the  verdict  of  all  who  shall  read  it, 
and  particularly  of  those  in  official  position  by  whose  efforts  this 


16  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

feature  of  the  celebration  originated  and  had  impressed  upon  it 
the  sanction  of  governmental  authority. 

The  citizens  of  New  Bedford  are  to  be  congratulated  upon  this 
valuable  accession  to  the  memorials  of  our  local  history,  so  reli- 
able and  comprehensive  in  its  facts,  so  lucid  in  its  statements,  so 
faithful  to  tlie  deeds  and  characteristics  of  our  people,  and  so 
attractive  and  sustained  in  the  purity  of  its  diction,  and  the  graphic 
beauty  of  its  descriptions. 

A  few  notes,  illustrative  of  the  statements  of  the  text,  have 
been  added.  In  the  appendix  will  be  found  certain  documents 
connected  with  our  municipal  annals  and  local  history,  which  it 
seemed  proper  to  publish  in  connection  with  the  address. 

Our  people  will  fiud  in  the  •'  historical  sketch"  now  presented 
to  them  a  faithful  and  life-like  picture  of  the  first  hundred  years 
of  our  business,  social  and  municipal  life.  It  is  a  record  to  which 
we  may  confidenlly  appeal  as  an  evidence  of  the  high  character 
of  those  who  have  been  the  makers  of  New  Bedf  )rd's  historv. 


JLIDIDE;ESS 


OF  THE 


HON.  WILLIAM  W.    CRAPO. 


In  Board  of  Aldermen, 

August  loth,  1876. 
Ordered,  That  a  vote  of  thanks  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  tendered 
the  Hon.  William  W.  Crapo,  for  his  very  able  and  excellent  address 
delivered  at  Liberty  Hall  July  4th,  1876,  upon  the  occasion  of  the 
celebration  of  our  Centennial  Anniversary. 

Adopted  in  concurrence. 


ADDRESS. 


A  resolution  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  has 
recommended  that  the  people  of  the  several  states  assem- 
ble in  their  counties  and  towns  upon  this  the  one  hun- 
dredth anniversary  of  our  national  independence,  and 
that  an  historical  sketch  of  each  county  and  town  be  given, 
which  shall  be  preserved  in  manuscript  or  print,  and  filed 
in  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  "  to  the  intent 
that  a  complete  record  may  thus  be  obtained  of  the  pro- 
gress of  our  institutions  during  the  first  centennial  of 
their  existence." 

This  recommendation  has  received  the  sanction,  by  of- 
ficial i^roclamation,  of  the  President,  and  the  Governors 
of  the  States,  and  has  met  with  ready  and  general  adop- 
tion by  the  people. 

The  importance  of  this  simultaneous  effort  for  the  pres- 
ervation of  local  history  in  the  record  of  facts  now  within 
reach  and  which  might  be  forgotten,  and  in  the  collection 
of  statistics  now  seemingly  of  trivial  consequence,  but 
essential  to  the  future  historian,  can  hardly  be  over-esti- 
mated. The  Fourth  of  July  oration  of  the  olden  time, 
with  its   appeals   of  patriotic  fervor,  often  with  stilted 


22  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

rhetoric  and  boastful  descriptions  of  the  past  and  extrav- 
agant prophecies  for  the  future,  but  still  breathing  a  love 
of  country  and  a  devotion  to  the  National  Union,  are  to 
give  place  at  this  time  to  the  simple  recital  of  the  events 
and  achievements  of  the  several  communities.  The  task 
of  today  can  best  be  fulfilled  by  a  plain  narrative,  which, 
while  familiar  in  its  details  and  containing  nothing  of  nov- 
elty to  us,  may  aid,  by  its  contribution  to  the  general 
fund,  to  exhibit  the  marvellous  growth  and  progress  of 
our  common  country  during  its  first  century. 

A  brief  and  condensed  account  of  the  birth  and  growth 
of  New  Bedford,  our  own  beloved  and  beautiful  city,  is 
then  the  task  to  which  you  have  called  me.  This  duty  is 
made  comparatively  easy  by  the  careful  and  conscientious 
work  of  those  who  have  preceded  me.  Seventy  j^ears  ago 
Abraham  Shearman,  Jr.,  a  scholarh'  and  kind-hearted 
member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  sought  to  perpetuate 
some  of  the  local  events  of  his  own  time  in  a  contribution 
to  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Collections.*  And  we 
have  in  a  permanent  and  attractive  form  the  results  of  the 
elaborate  research  of  our  local  historian,  Daniel  Ricket- 
SON,  who  describes  with  the  enthusiasm  of  a  genuine 
lover,  the  scener}',  events,  and  men  of  his  native  town. 
And  to  our  esteemed  fellow-citizen  James  B.  Congdon 
we  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude,  for  he  has  done  more  than  all 
others  for  the  collection  and  preservation  of  those  perish- 
able materials  to  which  the  future  historian  and  the  curi- 
ous student  in  family  genealogy  and  biography'  Avill  turn 

♦a  more  important  paper  than  that  contributed  by  Mr.  Shearman  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Historical  Collections  was  preparerl  by  him,  the  manuscript  of  which  is  in  the 
bands  of  the  cximpiler.    It  will  be  found  in  the  appendix. 


ADDRESS.  23 

with  grateful  appreciation.  Neither  should  I  omit  to 
mention  in  this  list  of  those  who  have  put  in  lasting  form 
the  record  of  the  past  the  name  of  William  A.  Wall, 
whose  artistic  genius  has  illuminated  some  of  the  promi- 
nent pages  of  our  history.  His  pictures*  of  the  "  Land- 
ing of  Gosnold,"  the  "Origin  of  the  Whale  Fishery," 
and  the  "  View  of  the  Four  Corners  in  1800,"  accurate  in 
detail  and  truthful  in  the  portraits  of  the  leading  actors  of 
those  times,  are  of  such  v.ilue  in  illustrating  the  earlier 
periods  of  our  history  that  they  should  be  placed  in  the 
ownership  of  the  city. 

Before  considering  the  prominent  events  of  the  century 
now  closing,  I  will  briefly  refer  to  the  earlier  history  of 
the  settlement  of  this  territory.  The  original  purchase 
was  made  of  the  Indians,  Wesamequenf  (otherwise  known 
as  Massasoit)  and  his  son  Wamsutta.  The  deed  bore 
date  at  New  Plymouth,  November  29th,  1652.  The  tract 
conveyed  embraced  all  of  the  shore  commencing  three 
miles  eastward  from  the  Acushnet  river,  and  ending  at  a 
flat  rock  on  the  westward  side  of  the  harbor  of  Acoaksett, 
and  extending  "  from  the  sea  upward  to  go  so  high  that 
the  English  umy  not  be  annoyed  b}-^  the  hunting  of  the 
Indians  in  any  sort  of  their  cattle."  The  consideration 
paid  was  "  thirty  yards  of  cloth,  eight  moose-skins,  fif- 
teen axes,  fifteen  hoes,  fifteen  pair  of  breeches,  eight 
blankets,  two  kettles,  one  cloak,  £2  in  wampan,  eight 
pair  stockings,  eight  pair  of  shoes,  one  iron  pot,  and  ten 

*  Tlu'  Ih  ;4t  named  of  these  pictures  is  in  tlie  possession  of  Mr.  William  P.  S.  Cai;- 
WELL,  tlie  second  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Rodman  Mougan.  Tiie  "  Four  Corners  t'  picture 
has  l>een  engraved.    Tlie  original  is  owned  by  Hon.  .Joseph  Grinsell. 

t  The  deed  ft-om  Wesamequen  to  Bradford  will  be  found  in  the  appendix. 


24  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

shillings  in  another  comoditie.''  *  We  have  no  tradition 
which  tells  us  in  what  form  the  last  item  of  ten  shillings 
payable  "  in  another  comoditie"  was  made. 

In  June,  1664, f  b}'  an  order  of  the  Plymouth  Court, 
the  mother  town  of  J)artmouth  received  its  simple  char- 
tered organization,  which  gave  to  the  inhabitants  the 
**  liberty  to  make  such  orders  as  may  conduce  to  their 
common  good  in  town  concernments." 

The  first  settlers  upon  this  territory  were  Ralph  Russell 
and  his  son  John  Russell,  and  Anthony  Slocum,  who  built 
an  iron  forge  at  Russell's  Mills,  and  John  Cooke,  whose 
home  was  at  the  head  of  the  Acushnct  river. 

The  Russell's  Mills  settlers  were  not  original  proprie- 
tors in  the  deed  of  1652,  but  John  Russell  purchased  the 
thirty-fourth  part  or  share  of  Capt.  Miles  Standish,  as 
appears  by  deed  dated  March  9th,  1664.  John  Cooke 
was  an  original  proprietor.  These  two  persons  were  the 
leading  men  of  the  town.  John  Russell  was  the  first  rep- 
resentative to  the  Old  Colony  Court,  in  1665.  The  three 
years  following  John  Cooke  was  the  representative.  Then 
followed  John  Russell  for  four  years  ;  and  during  the  first 
twenty  3'ears  of  our  municipal  existence  these  men  suc- 
ceeded each  other  at  Plymouth.  In  1667  the  court  at 
Plymouth  authorized  John  Cooke  to  make  contracts  of 

*  The  proprietors  of  the  territory  of  Dartmouth  became,  under  an  order  of  the 
Plymouth  Court,  a  quasi  corporation,  wliicli  continued  in  existence  for  about  one 
hundred  and  seventy  years.  Under  this  authority  their  lands  were  conveyed.  Their 
records,  which  arQ  very  voluminous,  have  been  copied  by  direction  of  the  County 
Commissioners  under  an  act  of  the  General  Court,  and  the  copy,  with  a  copious 
index,  is  deposited  in  the  offlc«  of  the  Register  of  Deeds,  at  the  Court  House  in  this 
city.  The  original  records,  with  Benjamin  Crane's  fleld-books,  are  at  the  Free  Pub- 
lic Library.    Abner  B.  Gifford,  of  Westport,  was  the  last  clerk. 

t  See  appendix  for  the  Court  Orders  granting  municipal  rights  and  fixing  teiTitorial 
limits. 


ADDRESS.  25 

marriage  in  tiie  town  of  Dartmouth,  to  administer  oaths, 
to  issue  warrants  in  his  Majesty's  name,  to  bind  over 
persons  to  answer  to  the  court  at  Plymouth,  and  "to  give 
forth  subpoiuies  to  warn  witnesses."  He  was  also  for 
many  years  a  Baptist  minister  in  Dartmouth.* 

Two  hundred  years  ago,  in  1676,  this  locality  was  de- 
vastated by  a  cruel  Indian  war,  full  of  barbarity  and 
atrocity,  carried  on  by  King  Philip,  the  younger  brother 
of  Wamsutta.  The  Plymouth  Court  took  into  serious 
consideration  "  the  tremendous  dispensations  of  God  to- 
ward the  people  of  Dartmouth,  in  suffering  the  barbarous 
heathen  to  spoil  and  destroy  most  of  their  habitations," 
and  it  was  ordered  that  in  the  rebuildino:  and  resettliujj 
they  live  compact  together,  so  that  the}^  may  be  better 
able  both  to  defend  themselves  from  the  assault  of  an 
enemy,  and  to  attend  the  public  worship  of  God. 

At  this  time  (1676)  most  of  the  dwellings  in  the  town 
had  been  destroyed,  and  many  of  the  people  killed. 
Those  who  remained  retired  into  Russell's  house  at  Appo- 
nagansett,  which  was  converted  into  a  garrison. •)•  There 
were  other  garrisons  within  the  limits  of  the  old  town, 
one  of  which  was  on  Palmer's  Island,  and  another  on  the 
east  bank  of  the  Acushnet,  near  the  Isle  of  Marsh. 

The  Acushnet  Great  Swamp  and  the  Apponagansett 
Great  Swamp  were  the  convenient  lurking  places  for  the 
Indians,  into  which  the  settlers  could  not  safely  follow 
them. 

Upon  the  death  of  King  Philip,  our  fathers  were  cn- 


*  IJackus'tj  Chui-ch  Historj-,  p.  13.'). 
t  Bnyliet*  Memoir,  vol.  2,  p.  47. 


26  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

abled  to  rebuild  their  homes  and  again  devote  their  ener- 
gies to  subduino^  the  wilderness.* 

John  Russell,  who  with  his  father  Ralph  Russell  and 
Anthony  Slocum  operated  the  iron  forge  at  Russell's 
Mills,  and  whose  death  occurred  in  1694,  did  not  reside 
within  the  limits  of  the  present  city.  His  son  Joseph 
was  born  in  1G50,  and  during  the  war  lived  at  the  Appo- 
nagausett  garrison,  where  his  twin  sons  Joseph  and  John 
were  born  Nov.  22d,  1679.  He  moved  from  the  Appo- 
nagansett  river  to  the  Acushnet  prior  to  1711,  and  re- 
sided at  what  is  now  the  corner  of  County  and  South 
streets.  Joseph  Russell,  born  at  the  garrison,  afterwards 
resided  at  what  is  now  the  corner  of  County  and  Bush 
streets,  where  in  my  boyhood  stood  the  "little  school- 
house  "  in  whose  yard  was  the  well  used  by  this  early 
settler.  The  title  of  the  lands  of  the  Russells  was  con- 
firmed b}'  her  Majesty's  (Queen  Anne's)  Justices  of  the 
Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  for  the  County  of  Bristol,  May 
25,  1711.  The  survey  had  been  made  by  Benjamin 
Crane,  who,  under  the  "  eight  hundred  acre  division," 
established  the  original  boundaries. 

The  son  of  the  last  named  Joseph  Russell,  also  named 
Joseph,  was  born  on  the  8th  October,  1719,  and  died  on 
the  16th  October,  1804,  aged  85  years. f  We  may  fairly 
consider  this  last  named  Joseph  Russell  as  the  founder  of 
our  city.     He  owned  the  tract  of  land  bounded  on   the 

♦Aid  was  contributed  from  various  sources  for  the  relief  of  Dartmouth  when  thus 
desolated;  and  it  is  an  interesting  fact  that  a  lil)eral  conlribution  came  from  Ireland. 
We  were  but  paj-ing  an  old  debt  when  we  sent  assistance  to  the  destitute  people  of 
that  country. 

t  An  interesting  account  of  the  Russell  family,  by  William  T.  Russell,  a  grandson 
of  the  founder  of  our  city,  is  published  in  the  appendix. 


ADDRESS.  27 

south  by  land  of  his  brother  Caleb,  the  division  line  being 
midway  between  the  present  Bedford  and  Russell  streets, 
and  on  the  north  by  land  of  Manasseh  Kempton,  whose 
division  line  was  l)etween  the  present  Elm  and  William 
streets,  and  bounded  easterly  by  the  river.  His  home- 
stead was  on  the  County  road,  as  it  was  called,  between 
the  present  Court  House  and  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Chas. 
W.  Morgan.  He  is  described  as  "  a  man  of  great  indus- 
try, prudence,  and  enterprise,  and  of  strict  integrity  of 
character,  a  large  farmer  and  extensive  landowner."  He 
was  also  engaged  in  mercantile  business,  owning  several 
vessels  trading  at  southern  ports  and  the  West  Indies. 
He  was  the  first  to  engage  in  the  whale  fishery,  and  to 
establish  a  sperm  oil  factory  in  New  Bedford. 

The  history  of  the  New  England  whale  fishery  is  so  in- 
terwoven with  the  history  of  New^  Bedford  during  the  last 
century  that  they  cannot  be  separated  ;  and  no  record  of 
the  growth  and  business  of  our  town  and  city  can  be 
complete  without  it.  Our  wealth,  our  population  and 
our  progress  have  been  the  fruits  of  this  industry;  and 
our  position  and  fame  among  the  cities  of  the  world  is 
due  to  its  successful  prosecution. 

The  first  whaling  by  New  Englaud  men  was  doubtless 
done  by  the  inhabitants  of  Cape  Cod.  In  the  records  of 
Nantucket,  in  1690,  it  is  written,  "One  Ichabod  Paddock 
came  from  Cape  Cod  to  instruct  the  people  in  the  art  of 
killing  whales."  In  Edward  Randolph's  narrative,  writ- 
ten for  the  Lords  of  Trade  in  October,  1G76,  in  describ- 
ing the  resources  of  the  Colony  of  New  Plymouth,  he 
says,  "And  here  is  made  a  good  quantitj^  of  whale  oil. 


so  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

which  fish  they  take  upon  the  coasts."  *  The  business 
was  then  carried  on  in  boats  from  the  shore.  As  early 
as  1715  we  find  the  people  of  Nantucket  pursuing  the 
whales  upon  the  ocean  in  small  sloops  and  schooners, 
making  voyages  of  a  few  weeks'  duration  and  bringing 
the  blubber  home  and  trying  out  the  oil  on  shore. 

In  1751  there  were  two  or  three  vessels  from  Appona- 
gansett  river  engaged  in  this  fishery.  These  vessels  were 
owned  by  John  Wady  and  Daniel  Wood.  There  were, 
at  this  date,  one  or  two  vessels  in  this  business  from  the 
Acushnet  river,  owned  by  Joseph  and  Caleb  Russell. 
Up  to  this  time  whales  were  principally  taken  between 
George's  Bank  and  the  capes  of  Virginia  ;  and  the  voyages 
continued  from  four  to  six  weeks.  Soon  after  the  whale- 
men extended  their  cruisina:  grounds  to  the  eastward  of 
the  Newfoundland  coast,  and  the  voyages  were  lengthened 
to  three  months. 

At  first,  more  vessels  were  fitted  from  Apponagansett 
river  than  from  the  Acushnet ;  but  soon  the  superior  ad- 
vantages of  our  harbor  became  apparent,  and  the  Appo- 
nagansett vessels  were  fitted  here.f 

Consider  for  a  moment  the  aspect  of  our  town  when 
these  two  or  three  little  sloops  were  fitting  for  their  whal- 
ing voyages.  The  present  site  of  the  city  was  a  forest. 
There  was  a  "  try-house"  near  the  shore,  (at  the  foot  of 
Centre  street,)  and  a  rough  cart- way  led  through  the 
Avoods  to  the  few  farm  houses  on  the  County  road. 

The  Rev.  Paul  Cofiin,  who  ten  years  later  (July  21st, 

*See  appendix  for  an  account  of  some  instances  of  "Primitive  Whaling." 
t  Abraham  Shearman,  Jr.,  has  given  some  valuable  memoranda  in  relation  to  the 
early  whaling,  which  are  to  be  found  in  the  appendix. 


ADDRESS.  29 

1761)  visited  the  place,  thus  describes  it  in  his  journal: 
"  This  day  rode  to  Dartmouth,  a  spacious  town ;  twenty 
miles  will  carry  jou  through  it.  Rocks  and  oaks  are 
over  the  whole  town.  Whortle  bushes  and  rocks  in 
this  and  the  two  former  towns  are  the  sad  comfort 
of  the  weary  traveller.  At  sunset  arrived  at  Rev. 
AVest's." 

In  17 GO  there  commenced  an  immigration  to  this  local- 
ity which  indicated  that  its  future  was.  to  be  commercial 
rather  than  agricultural.*  In  this  year  Joseph  Russell 
sold  an  acre  of  land,  the  first  sale  made  from  his  "  800 
acre  "  homestead  estate,  to  John  Loudon.  The  spot  se- 
lected was  a  few  rods  south  of  Union  street  on  South 
Water  street,  and  on  it  a  house  was  erected.  Mr.  Lou- 
don came  from  Pembroke.  He  was  a  calker  by  trade, 
and  his  purpose  in  coming  here  was  to  engage  in  ship- 
building. He  was  followed  by  Benjamin  Taber,  who 
purchased  a  lot  of  land  on  the  north  of  the  present  Union 
street,  and  built  a  shop  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on 
boat-building  and  block-making,  which  trades  he  had 
learned  at  Nantucket.  The  same  year  John  Alien,  who 
was  a  house  carpenter,  bought  a  lot  on  the  east  side  of 
South  Water  street,  extending  to  the  river.  Upon  this 
he  built  a  house,  which  was  afterwards  sold  to  Barzillai 
Myiick,  a  ship  carpenter. 

The  next  year  (1762)  Gideon  Mosher,|  a  mechanic, 
boujrht  a  lot  on  the  north  side  of  L^nion  and  east  side  of 


♦See  Abraham  Shearman  Jr.'s  memoranda  for  some  account  of  New  Bedfoni's 
early  history. 

t  Mosher  took  no  deed  of  his  pnrchaoe.  The  land  was  deeded  by  Joseph  Russell 
<lirectly  to  Benjamin  Taber. 


30  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

North  Water,  and  erected  a  house  thereon.  The  same 
year  Elnathan  Sampson,  of  Wareham,  a  blacksmith,  pur- 
chased the  lot  next  north  of  Loudon's.  His  lot  was 
bounded  on  the  "  north  and  east  on  land  left  for  ways  or 
streets."  These  are  now  known  as  Union  and  Water 
streets.  His  north  line  was  eight  rods  in  length,  and  his 
east  line  four  rods,  and  the  purchase  money  was  £6  13s. 
4d.  The  early  settlement  was  at  the  Four  Corners,  as  it 
was  known  and  called  for  a  hundred  years.  This  was  the 
centre  of  the  young  town. 

1  have  been  somewhat  minute  in  this  description  of  the 
infant  settlement,  in  order  that  the  industrial  character  of 
the  pioneers  might  be  noticed.  The  men  who  came  here 
in  1760  to  build  up  a  town  were  mechanics.  Taber, 
Allen,  My  rick,  Mosher,  and  Sampson,  w'ere  industrious 
and  enterprising  mechanics,  and  their  descendants,  inher- 
iting their  industry  and  enterprise,  have  been  and  are 
among  our  worthiest  citizens.  We  may  well  believe  that 
the  earnestness  of  purpose  and  the  devotion  to  their  trades 
with  -which  these  young  mechanics  of  one  hundred  years 
ago  sought  to  improve  their  condition,  affected  in  no 
small  degree  the  character  of  our  local  institutions.  And 
w^e  look  back  with  satisfaction  to  the  intelligent  and  in- 
dustrious character  of  the  skilled  and  honest  artisans 
under  whose  wise  influence  the  early  settlement  of  our 
town  was  made. 

But  there  was  one  thing  wanting  to  promote  the  busi- 
ness of  the  village.  Capital  was  needed.  Joseph  Russell 
had  means,  which  he  used  in  whaling  and  freighting,  and 
which  furnished  moderate  employment  to  the  villagers. 


ADDRESS.  31 

But  his  wealth  was  not  hirge,  and  his  operations  were 
necessarily  very  limited. 

The  required  capital,  so  necessary  for  the  activity  and 
growth  of  the  village,  came  in  1705,  when  Joseph  Rotch, 
an  enterprising  merchant  of  great  experience  and  knowl- 
edge in  mercantile  affairs,  selected  our  harbor  as  one 
eligible  and  advantageous  for  the  prosecution  of  the  whale 
tishery.  This  event  was  of  the  ntmost  importance,  and 
this  acquisition  of  capital,  accompanied  with  the  ripe  ex- 
perience, clear-headed  sagacity  and  skilled  methods  of 
this  accomplished  merchant,  gave  an  impetus  to  our 
infant  industry  which  insured  its  permanence  and  success. 

Mr.  Rotch  purchased  from  Joseph  Russell,  in  1765, 
ten  acres  of  land  in  one  tract,  besides  a  number  of  smaller 
lots  in  different  parts  of  the  town.*  The  "ten-acre  pur- 
chase "  was  from  the  north  side  of  the  Russell  farm,  and 
next  to  the  estate  of  Manasseh  Kempton.  It  commenced 
on  the  shore  where  is  now  Hazzard's  wharf,  and  its  north 
line,  between  "William  street  and  Elm  street,  extended 
nearly  to  Pleasant  street  and  Cheapside  ;  its  south  line 
was  bounded  by  the  present  estate  of  Willard  Sears.  Its 
river  front  extended  from  Central  wharf  to  the  north  line 
of  Hazzard's  wharf. 

Up  to  this  time  the  village  had  no  distinctive  name ;  f 

*  A  copy  of  the  deed  from  Joseph  Russell  to  Joseph  Rotch  will  be  found  in  the 
appendix. 

t  ITiat  part  of  Dartmouth  which  became  New  Bedford  was  known  as  the  Acushena 
country.  Tlie  village  which  was  afterwards  known  as  Cuslinet  (the  name  is  spelt 
in  half  a  dozen  diflerent  ways  in  the  old  records)  formed  one  of  the  three  territorial 
divisions  of  Dartmouth,  and  was  thus  recognized  for  all  tlie  purposes  of  municipal 
arrangements  and  taxation.  The  other  two  were  I'onagansett  (Dartmouth)  and 
Coaksett  (Westport.) 

1061.  "Cushenag"  was  taxed  "for  the  publicke  charges  of  the  countrey,  as  they 
were  ordered  by  the  Court  for  this  yeare,  respecting,  the  officers'  wages  and  ckarye. 


32  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

it  was  simply  a  part  of  Dartmouth.  But  now  its  incieas- 
iug  importance  rendered  necessary  a  name  by  which  the 
locality  should  be  known.  At  the  suggestion  of  Mr. 
Eotch,  and  as  a  compliment  to  Mr.  Russell,  although 
somewhat  indirect,  the  village  was  called  "Bedford." 
About  this  time  there  were  other  accessions  to  our  busi- 
ness population.  John  Rowland  had  moved  into  the  vil- 
lage from  Apponagansett,  and  Isaac  Ilovvland  (the  senior 
of  that  name)  had  come  from  Newport,  bringing  with 
him  considerable  capital  and  business  enterprise.  The 
latter  gentleman  resided  in  the  most  elegant  and  expen- 
sive house  in  the  town.  It  was  built  of  brick,  — the  first 
of  that  material  erected  here ;  it  was  situated  on  Union 
street,  and  was  torn  down  when  Cheapside  was  opened. 

The  little  village  of  Bedford  prospered.  Its  industries 
were  successful,  its  population  rapidly  increased,  and  its 
merchants  added  largely  to  their  wealth.  The  whaling 
vo^^ages  had  been  extended,  and  new  grounds  had  been 
discovered.  During  the  ten  years  from  17G5  to  1775  our 
whaling  fleet  had  increased  from  two  or  three  vessels  to 
fifty,  which  were  much  larger  and  of  more  value.  The 
vessels  sent  out  to  the  Falkland  Islands  in  1774  were 
fitted  and  owned  here.  It  was  this  example  of  New  Eng- 
land daring  and  enterprise  which  in*f»'.red  Burke  in  the 
House  of  Commons  to  utter  that  eloquent  tribute  to  our 
victorious  industry  which  so  often  has  touched  the  pride 
and  awakened  the  enthusiasm  of  the  sons  of  New  Bedford 


of  the  Tnayistrate's  table,  £1  10  00."  This  was  the  territory  iu  tlie  neighborhood  of 
the  Acushnet  river.  "The  farmes  against  Road  Hand"  were  also  Uixed.  These 
"farmes"  were  upon  that  part  of  the  territory  afterwards  called  Dartmouth  which 
))ordered  upon  tlie  province  of  Khode  Island.— [Old  Colony  Kecords,  1661.] 


ADDRESS.  33 

and  Nantucket.  "  No  ocean,"  says  Burke,  '♦  but  what  is 
vexed  with  their  fisheries ;  no  climate  that  is  not  witness 
to  their  toils.  Neither  the  perseverance  of  Holland,  nor 
the  activity  of  France,  nor  the  dexterous  and  firm  sagacity 
of  English  enterprise,  ever  carried  this  perilous  mode  of 
hardy  enterprise  to  the  extent  to  which  it  has  been  pushed 
by  this  recent  people, —  a  people  who  are  still,  as  it  were, 
in  the  gristle,  and  not  yet  hardened  into  the  bone  of  man- 
hood." 

The  war  of  the  revolution  not  only  checked  this  growth, 
but  destroyed  almost  entirely  our  business.  It  was  use- 
less to  send  vessels  to  sea  with  the  danger  of  almost  cer- 
tain capture  ;  and  if  capture  were  avoided  and  a  cargo 
obtained,  with  no  market,  since  the  consumers  in  Europe 
could  not  be  reached.  No  town  sufi*ered  more  from  the 
common  hazards  of  the  war,  nor  by  direct  depredations 
of  the  enemy.  Joseph  Rotch  returned  to  Nantucket,  and 
remained  there  until  the  war  closed.  Joseph  Russell  lost 
most  of  his  property,  except  his  real  estate ;  and  the  same 
was  true  of  the  other  merchants.  The  great  majority  of 
the  business  men  of  the  village  were  Quakers,  and  could 
not  conscientiously  engage  in  the  privateering  adventures 
which  otherwise,  as  a  seafaring  community,  they  would 
naturally  have  undeiitakcn.  But  the  advantages  of  our 
harbor  were  recognized  during  the  war,  and  it  was  found 
to  be  a  convenient  port  from  which  to  fit  out  privateers, 
and  a  safe  refuge  for  their  prizes.  There  were  many, 
too,  of  our  sailors  and  citizens,  who  were  quite  willing  to 
engage  in  this  hazardous  business,  prompted  both  by  its 
rewards  and  a  desire  to  cripple  the  commerce  of  the  en- 


34  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

emy  >vhich  had  destroyed  their  peaceful  employments. 
Before  the  open  declaration  of  hostilities  between  the  two 
countries,  as  early  as  May,  1774,  exasperated  by  the  cap- 
ture in  Buzzard's  Bay  of  three  vessels  belonging  to  Sand- 
wich, b}'  the  British  cruiser  Falcon,  a  schooner  had  been 
fitted  out  of  this  harbor,  which  recaptured  two  of  the 
vessels  and  took  as  prisoners  fifteen  British  officers  and 
marines. 

Our  harbor  became  a  rendezvous  for  privateers,  and 
many  prizes  were  brought  here,  and  valuable  cargoes 
landed,  either  to  be  stored  in  our  warehouses  or  forwarded 
into  the  interior. 

It  was  to  punish  the  people  of  the  town  for  their  of- 
fences in  fitting  out  and  harboring  privateers,  and  to  de- 
stroy the  shipping  and  valuable  stores  which  were  col- 
lected here,  that  Major-General  Grey,  under  orders  from 
Sir  Henry  Clinton,  made  the  raid  of  Sept.  5th  and  6th, 
1778,  which  destroyed  a  large  portion  of  the  property  of 
the  village,  and  inflicted  a  blow  which  crippled  it  for 
years.  This  event,  which  is  the  most  prominent  one  in 
our  local  revolutionary  history,  would  demand  an  ex- 
tended notice  and  an  elaborate  description,  were  it  not 
that  the  pen  of  the  historian  has  already  given  it  a  per- 
manent record.  I  will  therefore  at  this  time  only  indicate 
the  principal  features  of  the  attack. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  5th  day  of  September,  1778, 
there  landed  from  the  frigate  Carysfort  and  the  transports 
that  accompanied  her,  between  four  and  five  thousand 
British  troops.  Fearing  to  come  up  the  river  on  account 
of  the  fort  which  guarded  the  harbor,  the  landing  was 


ADDRESS.  35 

made  by  boats  in  Clark's  Cove.  Marching  up  the  County 
road  to  the  village,  they  burned  houses  and  wharves, 
shipping,  naval  stores  and  provisions.  The  total  loss  of 
property  was  estimated  at  £96,980 ;  no  small  sum  for 
those  days,  in  such  an  infant  settlement.  While  the 
work  of  destruction  was  ffoino;  on  about  the  wharves  and 
warehouses,  the  main  body  of  the  troops  marched  up  the 
County  road  towards  the  Head  of  the,  River.  Near  the 
present  corner  of  North  street  they  tired  upon  and  killed 
Abraham  Russell,  Thomas  Cook,  and  Diah  Trafford. 
This  was  the  first  blood  shed  in  the  revolution  in  this 
neighborhood.  There  had  been  stationed  here  a  company 
of  light  artillery  sent  from  Boston,  under  the  command 
of  Capt.  James  Cushing,  but  a  short  time  previous  to  the 
landing  of  the  British  it  had  been  ordered  to  Rowland's 
Ferry.  During  the  day  of  the  lauding  James  Metcalf, 
the  1st  lieutenant,  and  William  Gordon,  the  2d  lieuten- 
ant, had  returned  with  a  part  of  the  company  and  one 
field  piece.  They  were  obliged  to  retreat  as  the  British 
advanced,  and  during  the  night  Lieut.  Metcalf  was  mor- 
tally wounded  at  Acushnet.  The  enemy  marched  around 
the  head  of  the  river  to  Sconticut,  and  after  destroying 
the  magazine  and  burning  the  barracks  at  the  fort  they 
reembarked,  the  fleet  coming  from  Clark's  Cove  to  the 
river  to  receive  them. 

An  attempt  was  made  to  rally  the  militia  of  the  neigh- 
boring country  for  the  defence  of  the  village,  and  140  to 
150  men  w^ere  collected.  These  men  rendered  eflScient 
service  in  protecting  the  propert}^  on  the  Fairhaven  shore. 
Major  Israel  Fearing  was  the  hero  of  the   occasion,  and 


36  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

displayed  great  courage  ;  and  the  resolute  way  in  which 
he  handled  the  few  raw  militiamen  won  for  him  the 
warmest  praise. 

But  at  last  the  war  was  ended.  When  the  news  came 
to  this  little  village  that  the  ship  Bedford,  *  Capt. 
Wm.  Mooers  master,  had  arrived  in  the  Downs,  on  the 
23d  day  of  February,  1783,  the  very  day  of  the  signing 
of  the  preliminary  treaty  of  peace,  and  had  straightway 
proceeded  to  London  with  her  cargo  of  587  barrels  of  oil, 
displaying  there  for  the  first  time  the  United  States  flag, 
with  its  stars  and  stripes,  then  the  people  of  the  village 
believed  that  peace  with  its  blessings  had  come,  and  they 
were  ready  to  begin  again  the  work  of  rebuilding  the 
town.  This  ship  Bedford  was  built  by  Ichabod 
Thomas  on  North  river,  Pembroke,  and  delivered  to  Jo- 
seph Rotch,  at  Bedford,  January  13th,  1772,  as  appears 
by  the  receipt  which  is  still  extant.  She  was  named  by 
the  owner  for  his  adopted  town,  and  sailed  from  this  har- 
bor before  the  war. 

It  was  a  remarkable  coincidence  that  the  war,  which 
had  been  precipitated  in  the  destruction  of  the  tea  in 
Boston  harbor,  thrown  overboard  from  the  Dartmouth, 
a  ship  owned  by  Francis  Rotch,  of  this  same  village,  and 
built  in  1767  at  the  foot  of  Middle  street,  should  have  as- 
sociated with  its  close  the  advent  in  English  paters  of  the 
ship  Bedford,  as  the  first  vessel  floating  the  American 
flag  in  any  British  port.     The  names  of  the  mother  town 

*  See  appendix  for  an  account  of  the  annval  of  the  Bedford  in  the  Thames,  and  of 
the  excitement  occasioned  bj'  the  event.  A  letter  from  William  Rotch,  Jr.,  to  Heze. 
kiah  Barnard,  written  in  184i,  liaving  relation  t«  that  event,  will  also  be  foiind  in 
connection  with  it. 


ADDRESS.  37 

and  of  the  village  are  thus  made  memorable  in  our  revo- 
lutionary history. 

Our  municipal  existence  as  a  separate  town  occurred  in 
1787,*  when  both  New  Bedford  and  Westport  were  by 
acts  of  incorporation  severed  from  the  old  township  of 
Dartmouth. 

To  show  how  carefully  our  fathers  ^protected,  even  in 
their  legislation,  the  feelings  of  the  minority  in  matters 
of  domicil  and  local  government,  let  me  quote  a  sentence 
from  the  act :  "  Provided,  nevertheless,. that  any  of  the 
inhabitants  now  dwelling  on  the  above-described  lands, 
who  are  or  may  be  still  desirous  of  belonging  to  the  town 
of  Dartmouth,  shall  at  any  time  Avithin  two  years  from 
the  passing  of  this  act,  by  returning  their  names  into  the 
Secretary's  office,  and  signifying  their  desire  of  belonging 
to  said  Dartmouth,  have  that  privilege  ;  and  shall,  with 
their  polls  and  estates,  belong  to,  and  be  a  part  of  the 
said  town  of  Dartmouth." 

New  Bedford  was  required  to  pay  all  its  arrears  of 
taxes  to  Dartmouth,  and  its  proportionate  part  of  the 
unpaid  beef  tax,  so  called,  together  with  its  proportion 
of  all  other  debts.  It  was  provided  that  the  town's  stock 
of  powder  and  other  town's  property  should  be  estimated 
and  divided  ;  and  that  New  Bedford  should  pay  to  Dart- 
mouth for  the  workhouse  standing  within  the  line  of  New 
Bedford. 

The  population  of  New  Bedford,  according  to  the  next 

*  See  appendix  for  the  act  of  the  General  Court  incorporating  the  town  of  New 
Bedford,  and  for  the  acts  by  which  Fairhaven  was  set  off  IVom  New  Bedford,  the  di- 
viding line  between  Dartmouth  and  New  Bedford  was  altered,  and  a  part  of  Dart- 
mouth and  a  part  of  Acushnet  annexed  to  New  Bedford. 


38  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

census,  takeu  in  1790,  was  3313.     Dartmouth  had  2499, 
and  Westport  24{)6. 

The  leading  business  men  of  this  period  were  William 
Rotch,  Sr.,  the  wealthiest  man  of  the  town,  estimated  to 
be  worth  over  $100,000,  his  son  William  Rotch,  Jr.,  and 
his  son-in-law  Samuel  Rodman.  Then  followed  the  vari- 
ous members  of  tl^e  Russell  and  Rowland  families,  Thos. 
Hazzard,  Jr.,  and  the  IJathaways,  who  were  all  "  well  to 
do."  There  were  others  without  the  prestige  of  wealth, 
but  yet  of  great  influence'  in  the  town ;  such  as  Caleb 
Congdon  and  Abraham  Smith,  and,  not  to  be  omitted, 
the  Davis  family,  famous  for  its  Quaker  preachers.  The 
wealthy  people  were  models  of  industry  and  economy ; 
actuated  by  a  sense  of  duty,  they  thought  it  necessary  to 
show  an  example  of  prudence,  diligence,  and  unostenta- 
tion  to  others,  and  their  influence  in  this  regard  was  of 
the  greatest  benefit  to  the  community.  Their  style  of 
living  was  plain  and  rational. 

In  1795  there  was  a  Congregational  meeting-house  at 
the  Head  of  the  River,  and  another  in  the  Bedford  village. 
Dr.  West  officiated  at  each  on  alternate  Sundays. 

At  this  time  there  was  one  doctor,  Ebenezer  Perry,  the 
son  of  a  phj^sician,  and  called  a  "safe  doctor,"  who 
charged  sixpence  a  visit.  There  was  only  one  lawyer  in 
the  village,  Thomas  Hammond,  rarely  found  in  his  office, 
and  concerning  whom  tradition  says  that  shooting  and 
fishing  were  his  favorite  pursuits.  There  was  one  school- 
master, Cornelius  Wing,  and  one  schoolmistress.  Temper- 
ance Jennings.  Mr.  Wing  was  preceded  by  William 
Sawyer  Wall,  of  English  birth,  a  person  much  beloved, 


ADDRESS.  39 

and  who  exerted  a  great  influence  in  the  community.  He 
was  first  and  foremost  in  the  educational  and  scientific 
effbrts  of  that  day,  and  his  name  appears  as  the  first  Pres- 
ident of  the  Dialectic  Society,  the  earliest  literary  associ- 
ation of  the  town,  and  which  did  much  for  its  culture, 
refinement,  and  scholarship.* 

At  the  close  of  the  war  of  the  revolulion  our  people 
sought  to  regain  their  prosperity  and  commercial  impor- 
tance. Although  crippled  in  resources  they  were  not 
disheartened,  hut  sought  with  their  old  vigor  to  reestab- 
lish their  fortunes  by  their  former  pursuits  upon  the  seas. 
They  looked  to  the  broad  oceans,  common  and  free  to  all 
men  as  the  air  itself,  to  yield  them  rich  harvests  as  they 
had  in  the  past. 

But  there  were  other  difiiculties  besides  the  replacement 
of  the  vessels  which  had  been  burned  by  the  British  or 
had  rotted  in  disuse.  The  British  government,  as  if  to 
distress  us  even  after  peace,  imposed  a  heavy  alien  duty 
upon  oil,  which  rendered  it  impossible  to  realize  a  profit 
from  the  prosecution  of  the  business.  Her  policy  was  to 
force  this  industry  to  her  own  harbors.  For  a  time  it 
seemed  successful,  and  many  Nantucket  and  New  Bedford 
Avhalemcn  made  their  voyages  from  English  and  French 
ports.  But  the  persuasiveness  and  address  of  William 
Kotch,  Sr.,  secured  to    us,  first  from  France  and  then 

♦William  Sawyer  Wall  was  a  Frieiiil,  and  came  to  this  couiitiy  from  England  in 
i-arly  life.  He  was  the  father  of  our  fellow-citizen  William  Allen  Wall,  the  artist. 
A  few  weeks  ago,  when  Stanley  Pumphrey,  of  Worcester,  England,  a  minister  of  the 
Society  of  Friends,  was  in  this  city,  he  was  shown  a  certificate  IVom  the  Worcester 
Monthly  Meeting  issued  to  William  Sawyer  Wall,  dated  in  1802,  and  sent  to  him  in 
New  Bedford,  signed  by  Stanley  Pumphrey  as  clerk.  Our  visitor  is  grandson  of  the 
signer. 

August,  1876 


40  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

from  Great  Britain,  the  privilege  of  sending  our  oil  to 
those  countries  free  of  duty,  thereby  enabling  him  — 
as  one  of  his  biographers  has  said — to  carry  on  the 
business  with  the  highest  profit  and  to  benefit  his  neigh- 
bors. 

The  success  'vvhich  attended  the  efforts  of  our  citizens 
may  be  judged  by  the  statement  of  vessel  tonnage  owned 
and  sailing  from  this  harbor  in  January,  1804.  The  total 
number  of  registered  vessels  was  59,  amounting  to  13,- 
621  tons ;  and  of  enrolled  vessels  there  were  5525  tons ; 
raakinsr  an  aggregate  of  19,146  tons.  The  freightins: 
business  was  quite  important  at  that  time.  There  were 
30  ships  and  brigs,  averaging  200  tons  burthen,  owned 
and  fitted  here,  employed  in  general  freighting,  making 
their  voyages  to  Europe,  South  America,  and  the  West 
Indies.* 

But  the  work  of  developing  this  industry  of  the  whale 
fishery  during  the  early  years  of  the  nineteenth  century 
was  slow  and  difficult.  The  embargo  came  and  ruined 
many  of  our  merchants;  and  prior  to  that,  in  1807,  in 
consequence  of  the  Berlin  and  Milan  Decrees  and  the 
Orders  in  Council,  there  were  thirty  ships  laid  up  in  New 
Bedford  on  account  of  the  hazards  attending  them  at  sea. 

There  was  no  marked  improvement  in  this  business 
until  after  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812.  The  politics  of 
the  inhabitants  of  New  Bedford  from  the  close  of  the  rev- 
olution to  the  war  of  1812  was  Federalist,  and  they  had 
given   bitter,   decided   and  partisan    expression  to  their 

*Iu  the  appendix  will  be  found  a  list  of  Sew  Bedford  sliipping  in  1803,  prepared 
by  Abraham  Shearman,  Jr. 


ADDRESS.  41 

opinions  in  opi)Ositioii  to  tliis  latter  war.*  This  may  per- 
haps have  been  influenced  by  the  severe  reverses  experi- 
enced in  business.  Many  of  our  ships  in  the  Pacific  were 
captured  ;  and  while  a  few  were  recaptured  by  Porter  and 
Downcs,  most  of  them  were  destroyed  or  used  as  trans- 
ports by  the  British,  f 

After  the  termination  of  this  war,  the  whale  fishery,  es- 
pecially as  prosecuted  at  New  Bedford,  advanced  with 
great  rapidity  and  wonderful  success. 

But  before  proceeding  to  the  local  development  of  this 
industry,  I  desire  to  sketch  briefly,  in  chronological  order, 
the  seas  and  oceans  which  had  been  opened  iu  the  pursuit 
of  whales.  As  early  as  1770,  Nantucket  had  sought  the 
"  right"  whale  oflT  Disco,  in  Greenland,  going  as  high  as 
81°  north  latitude.  In  1774,  Xew  Bedford  had  sent  ves- 
sels to  the  Falkland  Islands.  In  1784,  we  find  our  Xew 
England  whalemen  taking  seals  and  whales  around  Pata- 
gonia and  in  the  Southern  ocean.  In  1789,  they  are 
about  Madagascar  and  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  In  1791, 
the  whaleships  entered  the  Pacific  ocean.  We  are  told 
that  the  vessels  were  small,  poorlj^  fitted,  and  iusutficient- 
ly  prepared  for  the  long  and  often  boisterous  passages 
around  Cape  Horn.  But  in  one  thing  they  excelled,  —  iu 
the  character  of  the  men  who  engaged  iu  these  perilous 
voyages.  History  cannot  point  to  an  enterprise  prosecuted 
with  more  vigor  and  courage,  with  more  hardihood  and 


*  A  lianscript  of  the  proceedings  of  a  town  meeting  lieltl  in  New  Bedford  July  21, 
1S14,  wliich  will  be  found  in  the  appendix,  gives  an  interesting  illustration  of  (his. 

tThe  names  of  the  men  who  composed  the  militaiy  companies  of  Xew  Bedford, 
which  formed  a  part  of  the  detachment  ordered  to  the  defence  of  the  town  in  1814, 
will  he  found  iu  the  appendix. 

V 


42  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

iutelligence,  than  that  displayed  by  the  pioneers  in  the 
Pacific  whale  fishery.  I  cannot  forbear  mentioning  the 
name  of  one  whom  you  all  remember ;  for  his  genial, 
courteous  manners,  his  kind  and  obliging  heart,  his  clear 
comprehension  and  prompt  decision  endeared  him  to  us 
who  knew  him  in  his  old  age,  and  assured  us  that  the 
commeudation  bestowed  upon  him  seventy  years  ago  for 
"  his  prudence,  courage,  and  fortitude,"  were  richly  de- 
served. The  whale  fishery  has  produced  many  noble 
men,  but  none  more  praiseworthy  than  that  hero  and  vet- 
eran of  the  sea,  Edmund  Gardner.* 

It  is  asserted  that  the  ship  Rebecca, |  of  New  Bed- 
ford, owned  by  Joseph  Russell  &  Sons  and  Cornelius 
Rowland,  named  for  Josei^h  Russell's  oldest  daughter,  the 
grandmother  of  our  esteemed  fellow-citizen  Daniel  Rick- 
etson,  was  the  first  American  whaleship  that  doubled 
Cape  Horn.  She  sailed  from  this  port  Sept.  28,  1791, 
under  command  of  Joseph  Kersey,  and  returned  with  a 
full  cargo  of  sperm  oil  obtained  on  the  coast  of  Chili,  on 
the  23d  February,  1793. 

In  1800,  our  whalers  were  cruising  on  the  coast  of  Peru 
and  around  the  Galapagos  Islands.  In  1818,  they  were 
on  the  "  Ofi'-shore  ground."  In  1820,  they  had  captured 
whales  on  the  coast  of  Japan.  In  1836,  our  vessels  were 
taking  oil  on  Kodiak,  the  northwest  coast  of  America ; 
and  in  1848,  the  bark  Superior,  of  Sag  Harbor,  Capt. 


•Capt.  Gardner  has  left  in  manuscript  an  autobiograjiliy,  abounding  in  interesting 
incidents,  and  containing  many  viviil  and  thrilling  descriptions.  It  is  worthy  of 
publication. 

t  William  T.  Russell,  a  grandson  of  Joseph  Russell,  has  given  an  interesting  ac- 
count of  the  Rebecca,  which  will  be  found  in  the  appendix. 


ADDRESS.  43 

Roys,  passed  through  Behring  Strait,  and  opened  up  to 
us  the  vast  wealth  of  the  Arctic  grounds. 

There  are  many  incidents  connected  with  the  earlier 
voyages  which  deserve  a  permanent  record,  and  the  nar- 
rative would  prove  an  entertaining  one.  I  will  recall  one 
or  two  of  the  "  good  voyages,"  as  they  were  called,  of 
forty  years  ago.  In  October,  1838,  the  ship  William 
Hamilton,  of  New  Kedford,  owned  by  I.  Rowland,  Jr., 
&  Co.,  commanded  by  William  Swain,  brought  home  a 
cargo  of  40G0  barrels  of  sperm  oil ;  her  entire  catch 
during  the  voyage,  including  the  shipment  from  the  West-, 
ern  Islands  on  her  passage  out,  being  4181  barrels  of 
sperm  oil. 

Capt.  Daniel  Wood,  remembered  by  many  in  this  audi- 
ence, a  fine  specimen  of  our  whaling  masters,  whose  clear 
judgment  and  impartial  decisions  fitted  him,  after  active 
service  upon  the  ocean,  to  act  as  Port  Warden  in  settle- 
ments between  owners  and  underwriters,  brought  to  Xew 
Bedford,  in  the  year  1833,  in  the  old  ship  Braganza, 
nearly  4000  barrels  of  sperm  oil.  And  George  B. 
Worth,  another  of  those  generous,  large-hearted  old 
sailors,  brought  in  the  Magnolia  to  her  owners  3451 
barrels.  But  in  those  days  of  large  "catch"  there  were 
low  prices. 

In  the  prosecution  of  the  whale  fishery  New  Bedford 
has  surpassed  all  other  places  that  have  engaged  in  the 
business,  and  her  increase  in  wealth  from  this  cause  was 
rapid  and  large.  From  the  year  1820  until  the  year  1857 
her  prosperity  and  her  accumulation  of  wealth  were  con- 
tinuous almost  without  exception. 


44  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

The  limits  of  this  address  will  not  permit  the  detail  of 
figures  showing  this  wonderful  increase  of  material  pros- 
perity.    A  few  must  serve  to  illustrate  our  progress. 

On  the  1st  day  of  August,  1835,  our  tonnage  was 73,982 

On  the  1st  day  of  August,  1845,  our  tonnage  was 116,569 

At  this  last-named  date  New  Bedford  was  the  fourth 
tonnage  district  in  the  United  States, — New  York,  Bos- 
ton and  New  Orleans  alone  exceeding  it.  There  was 
more  than  double  the  amount  of  registered  tonnage  owned 
in  New  Bedford  that  there  w\as  in  Philadelphia. 
•  During  the  year  1844  there  were  brought  into  New 
Bedford : 

Sperm  oil,    .   .    ,' 54,509  barrels. 

Whale-oil, 102,992  barrels. 

157,501  barrels. 
Whalebone, 978,592  pounds. 

Which  at  the  prices  of  that  time, — low  as  compared  with 
the  present,  — yielded  a  total  value  for  the  whaling  of  the 
year  of  $3,063,324.15.* 

About  this  time  our  people  thought  that  the  population, 
business  and  commercial  importance  of  the  town  entitled 
it  to  receive^  the  municipal  organization  of  a  city ;  and 
New  Bedford  received  its  city  charter  in  1847.f  The 
town  government  had  existed  sixty  years.  The  popula- 
tion had  increased  from  3000  to  15,000.      Fairhaven,J 

*See  the  appendix  for  an  account  of  "Xew  Bedford  in  184.1." 

t  The  last  town  meeting,  excepting  those  rendered  necessary  to  complete  the  change 
in  -the  form  of  municipal  government,  was  held  in  January,  1846.  It  was  one  of  the 
most  exciting  and  interesting  ever  held  in  the  town.  Under  a  belief  that  a  brief  ac- 
c<iunt  of  this  last  municipal  meeting  under  the  old  form  of  government  would  interest 
the  people,  a  transcript  of  the  town  records  is  given  in  the  appendix. 

:j;In  the  appendix  will  be  found  the  act  of  the  General  Court  setting  off  Fairhaven 
ftom  Xew  Bedford,  also  tlie  other  legislative  i)roceediugs  by  which  changes  have  been 
made  in  the  territorial  limits  of  New  Bedford. 


ADBEESS.  45 

which  had  been  organized  as  a  separate  town  in  1812 
from  the  territory  of  New  Bedford,  had  at  this  date  a 
population  exceeding  4000,  which  swelled  the  aggregate 
of  population  residing  upon  the  original  territorial  limits 
to  over  19,000. 

The  whaling  industry  of  New  Bedford  reached  its  high- 
est point,  in  capital,  in  vessels  and  tonnage,  in  1857.  Its 
fleet,  of  329  ships  and  whaling  outfits,  was  worth  more 
than  twelve  millions  of  dollars,  and  required  ten  thousand 
seamen. 

The  largest  importations  of  oil  and  bone  were  in  1851 
and  1853.  The  quantities  of  each,  with  the  prices  real- 
ized from  their  sale,  were  as  follows  : 

1851.        99,591  bbls.  sperm  oil,  at  $1.27J  per  gallon,    .   .  $3,991,980.75 

328,483  bbls.  whale  oil,  at      .45 J  per  gallon,    ..    4,682,114.50 

3,966,500  lbs.  whalebone,  at      .34i, 1,368,442.50 


$10,042,537.81 


1853.       103,077  bbls.  sperm  oil,  at  f  1.24|  per  gallon,    .  .  §4,050,539  56 

200,114  bbls.  whale  oil,  at      .584  per  gallon,    ..    4,762,524.77 

5,652,300  lbs.  whalebone,  at      .34i, 1,950,043.50 


$10,763,107.83 

I  have  mentioned  the  prominent  merchants  who  were 
identified  with  the  prosecution  of  the  whale  fishery  in  its 
earlier  years.  There  are  other  names  which  should  not 
be  omitted,  since  the  men  who  took  the  places  of  the 
pioneers  achieved  much  of  the  success.  John  Avery 
Parker,  George  Howland,  Isaac  Howland,  Jr.,  Humphrey 
Hathaway,  John  and  James  Howland,  and  William  C. 
Nye,  were  men  of  great  business  sagacity,  financial  skill, 
painstaking  industry,  and  unquestioned  integrity.  The 
large  fortunes  left  behind  by  many  of  them  show  how 


46  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

fully  these  qualities  had  been  exercised  and  how  abun- 
dantly rewarded.  From  1824  to  1830,  there  were  new 
counting  rooms  opened,  representing  what  was  then 
called  the  '*  middling  interest,"  and  occupied  by  Abra- 
ham Barker,  David  R.  Greene,  Joseph  Bourne,  Alfred 
Gibbs,  and  others.  These  men  boldly  claimed  a  share 
of  the  whaling  business,  and  aided  materially  in  making 
its  progress  continuous  and  rapid.  The  active  whaling 
merchants  of  the  present  day,  possessing  the  venture- 
some business  enterprise  of  their  predecessors,  need  not 
be  named. 

Two  events,  although  comparatively  recent,  must  be 
mentioned  in  order  to  render  complete  the  history  of  our 
fishery  :  the  depredations  by  the  rebel  cruisers  during  the 
war  of  the  rebellion,  and  the  loss  of  our  Arctic  fleet  in 
1871. 

Early  in  our  civil  war  the  torch  of  the  rebel  cruisers 
carried  dismay  into  our  whaling  fleets.  In  the  summer 
of  1862  the  confederate  steamer  Alabama,  under  com- 
mand of  Admiral  Semmes,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Azores, 
burned  many  of  our  vessels,  and  during  the  war  the 
Florida  and  Sumter  added  to  the  destruction.  But 
the  great  loss  occurred  in  June,  1865,  when  the  Shen- 
andoah, having  recruited  at  Melbourne  for  an  Arctic 
cruise,  entered  into  Behring  Strait.  Here  the  unsus- 
pecting whalemen,  pursuing  their  vocation  amid  the  ice 
and  fogs  of  that  frozen  region,  were  suddenly  met  by  a 
danger  which  they  could  neither  resist  nor  avoid.  This 
armed  steamer,  the  Shenandoah,  Capt.  AVaddell,  was 
in  their  midst,  and  the  work  of  destruction  was  rapid 


ADDRESS.  47 

aud  thorough.  Twenty-five  ships,  most  of  them  of  large 
size,  were  captured  aud  burned,  besides  four  others  cap- 
tured but  bonded  by  the  privateer  for  the  purpose  of 
furnishing  transportation,  to  some  friendly  port,  for  the 
eight  hundred  sailor  prisoners,  ^vho  with  sad  hearts,  fif- 
teen thousand  miles  from  home,  had  seen  their  burning 
ships,  with  the  products  of  their  toil  and  danger  and  their 
prospective  hopes  of  success,  sinking  beneath  the  waves. 

Among  the  incidents  of  this  rebel  raid  should  be  men- 
tioned the  praiseworthy  action  of  Capt.  Ebexezer  F. 
Nye,  of  the  Abigail,  after  the  loss  of  his  ship,  in  sav- 
ing as  far  as  possible  the  fleet  from  destruction.  The 
Milo  had  been  captured  and  bonded,  and  had  received 
on  board  a  large  number  of  prisoners.  During  the  fol- 
lowing night  Capt.  Nye  organized  an  expedition  of  two 
boats,  and  at  early  dawn  left  the  Milo.  While  the  Shen- 
andoah was  pursuing  her  piratical  work,  these  brave  men, 
following  along  the  fields  of  ice,  pulled  north  in  their 
open  boats  180  miles,  and  there  found  a  number  of  de- 
fenceless whalers,  giving  them  the  information  which 
saved  them  from  capture.  It  was  a  gallant  act,  prompted 
by  the  humanity  and  executed  with  the  cool  determination 
of  the  hardy  sailor. 

Fifty  whaling  vessels  were  captured  by  the  rebel  cruis- 
ers, of  which  forty-six,  with  outfits  aud  cargoes,  were 
burned.  Of  this  number  twenty-eight  sailed  from  aud 
were  owned  in  Xew  Bedford.  The  loss  of  ships  and  out- 
fits belonging  here  exceeded  one  million  of  dollars,  and 
of  oil  and  bone  on  board  four  hundred  thousand  dollars.* 

*  A  list  of  the  captured  vessels  is  given  in  tlic  appendix. 


48  CENTENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

But  the  most  memorable  of  all  the  disasters  which  have 
attended  this  perilous  business  was  that  of  September, 
1871,  when  in  a  single  day  thirty-three  ships  were  aban- 
doned in  the  Arctic  ocean,  hopelessly  crushed  or  envi- 
roned in  the  ice.  This  large  fleet  of  the  most  costly 
ships  in  the  service,  caught  between  the  jaws  of  the  ice 
floes,  drifted  with  the  westerly  gales  until  the  immense 
fields  of  ice  reached  the  shore,  w'hen  they  were  crushed 
like  egg  shells.  It  Mas  a  sad  and  terrible  calamity,  not 
merely  in  its  loss  of  property,  but  more  in  the  hard- 
ship and  sufiering  of  twelve  hundred  shipwrecked  men. 
Hemmed  in  by  the  ice  w'hich  lines  the  shores  of  a  barren 
country,  where  neither  food  nor  fuel  could  be  obtained, 
these  men  well  knew  that  if  driven  upon  the  beach,  ten 
or  eleven  dreary  winter  months  must  elapse  before  assist- 
ance could  reach  them,  and  that  in  the  long  interval  death 
would  come  to  most  of  them  by  starvation  or  cold.  In 
their  peril  an  expedition  of  three  boats  was  fitted  out 
under  command  of  Capt.  Frazier,  of  the  Florida,  to 
go  south  over  the  ice,  and  if  possible  find  vessels  in  the 
open  sea.  The  written  appeal  for  relief  which  these  ship- 
wrecked captains  sent  to  whoever  it  might  reach,  was  full 
of  touching,  pathetic  eloquence.  It  was  the  simple  appeal 
of  brave  men  in  distress  to  brave  men  who  could  realize 
the  fearful  peril. 

A  toilsome  and  anxious  journey  of  seventy  miles  be- 
tween packs  of  ice  brought  the  little  expedition  to  the 
open  sea  south  of  Icy  Cape,  and  there  the  sight  of  ships 
gladdened  their  hearts.  It  needed  no  appeal  for  succor, 
no  promise  of  reward,  for  the  warm  hearts  of  brother- 


ADDRESS.  49 

sailors  were  ready  to  save  their  comrades,  although  at  the 
heavy  loss  of  an  abandonment  of  their  own  voyages  and 
the  earnings  of  a  year.  Capt.  Frazier  returned  to  the 
wrecks  o&  Point  Belcher  with  the  joyous  tidings  of  relief, 
and  these  twelve  hundred  men,  taking  with  them  in  boats 
such  provisions  as  they  could  carry,  made  their  way  over 
and  through  the  ice  fields  to  the  rescuing  vessels  w-ithout 
the  loss  of  one  of  their  number. 

Of  the  thirty-three  vessels "  crushed  or  abandoned, 
twenty-two  belonged  in  Xew  Bedford,  and  were  valued, 
with  outfits,  without  the  oil  and  bone  on  board,  at  $1,- 
090,000. 

The  sketch  which  I  have  given  of  the  whale  fishery  as 
conducted  at  New  Bedford,  is  but  a  mere  outline  of  its 
history.  There  are  those  present  who  have  seen  its  rise, 
progress,  and  decline,  and  been  participants  in  its  labors 
and  perils.  It  reached  its  culminating  point  in  1856  or 
1857.  Since  then  it  has  declined,  and  now  our  fleet 
numbers  only  about  one  third  of  the  vessels  it  once  did. 
There  have  been  disasters  in  connection  with  this  pursuit. 
The  captures  by  the  English  in  the  war  of  1812,  the  cap- 
tures by  rebel  cruisers,  and  the  loss  of  the  Arctic  fleet 
were  heavy  blows.  Natural  causes,  which  need  not  be 
mentioned,  have  led  to  its  depression,  almost  to  its  down- 
fall. But  the  historical  fact  which  interests  us  is  that 
New  Bedford  has  been  built  up  by  the  whale  fishery.  A 
large  share  of  the  wealth  of  today  comes  from  this  source. 
It  has  made  our  community  what  it  is. 

The  record  is  one  of  which  any  city  may  be  proud. 
This  large  accumulation  of  wealth  has  been  obtained  by 


50  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

the  well  directed  enterprise  aud  persevering  industry  of 
the  people  of  New  Bedford,  and  belongs  to  the  people  of 
New  Bedford.  The  capital  of  nonresidents  has  not  aided 
us.  It  has  been  drawn  from  the  broad  fields  of  the  ocean 
with. much  toil  and  manifold  dangers;  with  perils  from 
the  ice  aud  fogs  and  storms  of  frozen  regions,  and  expos- 
ure and  disease  under  the  hot  burning  sun  of  the  equator. 
It  has  been  a  creation  of  wealth  by  the  skill  of  the  mer- 
chant and  the  hardy  daring  of  the  sailor,  aud  not  a  mere 
exchange  of  wealth.  Without  surveys  of  the  seas  and 
bays  which  it  made  its  cruising  grounds,  for  our  brave 
seamen  went  in  advance  of  exploration,  without  bounties, 
without  aid  from  government,  but  contributing  largely  to 
it  in  its  consumption  of  dutiable  articles,  and  overcoming 
European  competition,  the  people  of  New  Bedford  ob- 
tained the  control  of  the  whale  fishery,  and  made  their 
city  the  great  whale  oil  market  of  the  world.  Few  par- 
allels can  be  found  in  this  or  any  country  of  such  success- 
ful enterprise. 

But  long  before  the  decline  of  the  whale  fishery  it  be- 
came apparent  to  our  citizens  that  this  industry  could  not 
furnish  a  sufficient  field  for  our  capital  and  enterprise, 
and  that  New  Bedford  must  look  to  other  employment  for 
growth  and  progress.  Commercial  New  England  was 
yielding  to  manufacturing  New  England,  and  New  Bed- 
ford, not  relinquishing  her  control  of  the  whale  fishery, 
sought  to  add  the  machinery  of  the  manufacturer.  The 
first  really  efficient  move  in  this  direction  after  the  Cord- 
age Factory,  was  the  establishment  of  the  Wamsutta 
Mills.     This  occurred  in  1848,  with  a  capital  of  $160,000, 


ADDRESS.  51 

and  15,000  spindles  ;  increased  from  time  to  time  until  it 
has  reached  a  capital  of  $2,500,000,  with  153,000  spin- 
dles, an  annual  product  of  twenty  millions  of  yards  of 
cloth,  and  a  disbursement  of  $650,000  for  labor. 

This  manufacturing  enterprise  has  proved  a  success,  as 
its  ofrowth  and  larfje  dividends  attest.  The  honor  and 
credit  attaching  to  it  are  largely  due  to  our  venerable 
fellow-citizen,  Hon.  Joseph  Grinnell,  who  through  its 
whole  existence  has  been  its  president  and  its  guiding 
spirit.  It  is  his  prudent  management  and  business  sa- 
gacity, and  also  that  of  Thomas  Bennett,  for  many  years 
the  agent,  in  directing  the  manufacture  of  the  highest 
standard  of  cloth,  and  their  unrelenting  and  undeviating 
requirement  of  perfect  work  and  honest  labels,  that  have 
given  to  the  product  of  these  mills  a  world-wide  reputation. 

Other  manufticturing  enterprises  have  followed,  the 
Potomska  Mill,  Gosnold  Mills,  the  Copper  Works,  the 
Morse  Twist  Drill  Works,  and  many  more  under  the 
auspices  of  individual  capital  and  management. 

But  there  are  other  interests  connected  with  our  city. 
As  a  community,  we  have  been  devoted  to  business,  and 
hence  I  have  dwelt  largely  upon  our  industrial  pursuits. 
The  great  problem  of  life,  however,  is  not  in  the  accumu- 
lation of  Avealth,  the  fitting  of  ships,  or  the  building  of 
factories.  In  the  intellectual  and  moral  development  of  a 
people  we  find  the  highest  evidences  of  greatness.  New 
Bedford  points  to  her  public  school  system,  to  her  Free 
Public  Library  *  —  the  first  ever  organized  under  munici- 


*  The  appendix  contains  some  details  in  relation  to  our  public  jichools  anfl  the 
Free  Public  Library  which  could  not  be  given  in  the  address. 


52  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

pal  sanction  on  this  continent,  —  to  her  many  organiza- 
tions of  philanthropy  and  reform,  and  to  her  numerous 
churches  well  sustained,  laboring  in  a  liberal  spirit  of  co- 
operation for  the  moral  and  religious  welfare  of  the  peo- 
ple. The  march  of  a  hundred  years  in  these  higher 
duties  shows  an  advance  more  wonderful  than  that  which 
has  attended  our  material  growth. 

I  have  spoken  of  the  men  who  have  been  our  leaders  in 
business.  There  are  others  whose  names  ought  not  to  be 
forgotten.  John  Brewer,  Thomas  A.  Greene,  and  John 
F.  Emerson,  faithful  teachers  in  mental  instruction  ;  John 
Mason  Williams,  the  pure-minded  jurist;  Thomas  Man- 
dell,  Avhose  life  was  one  of  practical  benevolence  ;  Timo- 
thy G.  CofBn,  Thomas  D.  Eliot,  and  John  H.  Clifford, 
eminent  in  the  law  ;  and  that  long  list  of  divines,  Samuel 
West,  Orville  Dewey,  Ephraini  Peabody,  James  Austin 
Roberts,  George  L.  Prentiss,  John  Girdwood,  and 
Moses  How,  who  faithfully  and  tenderly  have  led  this 
people  in  the  ways  of  holiness. 

Beautiful,  indeed,  for  situation,  is  this  city  of  Xew  Bed- 
ford. Few  places  are  there  on  this  continent,  or  else- 
where, which  so  well  unite  the  institutions,  benefits  and 
advantages  of  the  city  Avith  the  freshness  and  simplicity 
and  comfort  of  rural  life.  Lying  between  green  pastures, 
on  the  one  hand,  and  the  still  waters  of  the  river  on  the 
other,  fronting  upon  this  bay  which  is  as  charming  as  the 
Bay  of  Naples,  and  rising  with  the  elevation  of  conscious 
pride  from  its  shores,  its  physical  condition  and  position 
are  delightful  beyond  exception.  We  rejoice  to  observe 
and  remember  that  those  who  have  shaped  its  outward 


ADDRESS.  53 

fortunes  have  been  studious  to  make  it  attractive  and 
healthful,  as  the  home  of  a  cultured  and  enlightened  peo- 
ple. Its  well  made  and  well  kept  avenues  and  streets, 
shaded  by  long  lines  of  trees  which  our  fathers  have 
planted ;  its  complete  and  cleanly  drainage,  which  the 
incoming  and  outgoing  tides  make  perfect  and  eflScient ; 
its  abundant  and  pure  water  distributed  and  available  for 
all  the  purpose  of  domestic,  mechanical,  and  protecting 
use;  its  trained,  alert,  and  electric  fire  department;  its 
well  diffused  system  for  gas  lighting ;  its  schools,  its 
churches  and  chapels,  and  bethel ;  its  hospital,  its  home 
for  orphans,  its  many  unions  of  hearts  and  hands  for  good 
works ;  its  comfortable  and  pleasant  homes  after  the  best 
methods  of  Xew  England  life,  combine  to  make  this 
municipality  w^orthy  of  our  best  affections,  and  of  our 
constant  effort  for  its  jprosperity  and  peace.* 

We  celebrate  today  the  centennial  birthday  of  our  in- 
dependent national  existence.  The  republic  was  born 
amid  the  smoke  and  fire  of  battle,  and  at  the  cost  of  the 
blood  of  patriots.  It  achieved  its  place  among  the  na- 
tions of  the  earth  through  the  grim  desolation  and  pro- 
longed sacrifices  of  war,  and,  ordained  of  God,  it  entered 
upon  its  destiny  as  a  government  of  liberty  and  free  insti- 
tutions. It  has  survived  the  perils  of  outward  violence, 
and  the  wild  storms  and  bloody  conflict  of  internal  strife. 
It  has  grown  from  three  millions  of  people  to  forty-four 
millions  ;  from  a  few  scattered  colonies  it  has  become  an 
empire  reaching  from  ocean  to  ocean,  and  bounded  on  the 

*  Some  interesting  statements  in  relation  to  the  finances  of  Xew  Bedford  and  its 
appropriations!  valuation  and  amount  and  rate  of  taxation,  will  be  found  in  the 
appendix. 


54  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

one  baud  by  perpetual  snows,  and  on  the  other  by  per- 
petual verdure. 

We  remember  with  pride  the  sacrifices  and  self-denial 
of  the  men  of  Bedford  in  1776,  and  the  losses  sustained 
and  grevious  burdens  borne  by  them  in  the  war  of  the 
revolution.  A  feeliug  of  deep  sadness  mingles  with  the 
pride  with  which  we  recall  the  noble  army  which  New 
Bedford  sent  to  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  and  many  of  us 
will  carry  to  our  graves  a  heavy  sense  of  loss  and  grief 
for  those  who  never  came  back  to  us. 

The  son  of  New  Bedford  who  one  hundred  years  hence 
may  review  the  history  of  his  city,  will  with  proud  satis- 
faction dwell  upon  the  loyalty  of  this  people  and  the  con- 
tributions made  by  them  in  men  and  money  for  the  pres- 
ervation of  the  Union.  The  Eoll  of  Honor  bears  the 
names  of  3200  men  furnished  by  New  Bedford  to  the 
army  and  nav}-,  being  1110  more  than  her  quota  under 
all  the  calls  made  upon  her.  Some  of  those  names  will 
never  disappear  from  our  history,  for  they  gave  their  lives 
in  patriotic  devotion  to  their  country.  Rodman,  How- 
land,  Brown,  Almy,  and  man}-  others,*  born  and  reared 

*  See  "  Roll  of  Honor  "  in  the  appendix. 

Giither  for  the  sacred  roll !  .     Blake,  who  well  his  station  kept, 

For  the  pedestal  of  fame!  Finn  liis  well  played  guns  beside. 

Deep  upon  the  undying  scroll  "  Yield  or  die !  "  "  I  never  yield  " — 

(irave  each  dear  and  honored  name.  Yielding  not,  the  fearless  XVE, 

Place  the  noble  Rodman's  name  On  his  country's  battle  Held, 

liigh  upon  the  stone  ve  rear —  For  his  coiiiitrv  dared  to  die. 

On  the  obelisk  of  fame"  Watson,  Fkaxcis,  OTTiwELt.! 

Youthful  HowLAMi  follows  near.  See  an  honored  place  for  you ; 

Bkuwx,  whose  sable  brothers  wept  Ai-mv,  Kemi'Tox,  here  as  well: 

When  their  gallant  leader  died;  All  to  God  and  countiy  true. 

Their  country's  martial  garb  they  wore, 
Their  country's  loved  commission  bore. 
And  through  all  time  the  enduring  shatt  shall  tell, 
They  for  their  country  fought,  and  for  their  country  fell. 

[From  the  Ode  spoken  at  the  dedication  of  the  Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Monument, 
.Tuly  4th,  1866.] 


ADDRESS.  55 

upon  our  soil,  are  enrolled  among  the  martyrs  who  died 
that  our  flag  might  still  wave  a  symbol  of  freedom  and 
the  equal  rights  of  all  mankind.* 

The  memory  of  the  heroism  and  the  patriotic  devotion 
of  those  who  struggled  for  our  independence,  and  of 
those  who  gallantly  contended  for  the  preservation  of  the 
national  union,  stirs  onr  blood  and  arouses  our  emulation. 
We  remember  the  brave  men  who  would  not  be  trampled 
on  by  tyranny,  and  the  loyal  men  who  suifered  to  perpet- 
uate free  institutions.  We  cannot  forget  the  record,  and 
we  ought  not  to  forget  it.  It  inspires  us  with  faith- 
fulness and  determination  to  meet  the  needs  and  require- 
ments of  the  coming  age ;  it  stimulates  us  to  labor  stren- 
uously for  the  highest  welfare  of  our  country,  believing 
that  America  holds  in  trust  the  destinies  of  the  world. 
We  are  descended  from  a  noble  ancestry.  We  are  proud 
of  their  achievements,  and  their  history  incites  us  to 
effort.  Our  birthright,  this  inheritance  of  the  principles 
and  sentiments  which  have  made  the  republic  great,  im- 
poses upon  us  grave  responsibilities. 


*  There  was  appropriated  and  expended  on  account  of  the  war  by  the  municipal 
autliorities  $177,000,  in  addition  to  $125,493.85  expended  during  tlie  four  years  by  the 
city  for  state  aid  to  tlie  families  of  volunteers,  and  which  latter  sum  was  afterwards 
refunded  by  the  Commonwealth.  The  loyal  women  of  New  Bedford  met  on  the  18th 
day  of  April,  18<jl,  six  days  after  the  llrlng  on  Fort  Sumter,  and  the  daj-  before  the 
tlrst  blood  was  shed  in  Baltimore,  and  organized  for  the  work  of  the  relief  of  those 
sorrows  and  suflerings  which  they  knew  must  come.  They  donated  upwai-ds  of 
$20,000  in  money,  and  $10,000  in  cloth,  flannel  and  hospital  stores.  In  addition,  "  The 
Society  for  the  Comfort  and  Kelief  of  our  Soldiers  in  Hospitjils"  furnished  many 
thousands  of  dollars  in  value  of  supplies  for  the  sick  and  wounded. 

In  18fi0  our  population  was  -22,300.  In  ISljo  it  was  20,8(53.  The  assessed  valuation  of 
property  in  1860  was  $24,198,1.38,  while  in  1865  it  had  deci-eased  to  $20,.525,790.  These 
llgures  show  the  heavy  losses  of  the  war,  and  the  sacrifices  made  by  tlie  men  of  this 
generation  for  the  preservation  of  tlie  Union.  The  story  of  "  New  Bedford  in  the 
Kebellion "  demands  a  volume  of  itself.  Some  further  detiiils  are  given  in  the  ap- 
pendix. 


56  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

We  must  preserve  the  results  of  the  past.  But  this  is 
not  our  whole  duty.  The  work  of  our  fathers  is  not 
completed.  Our  honor  and  safety  is  in  still  further 
achievements  of  public  justice  and  orderly  freedom,  and 
in  the  advancement  of  the  common  welfare.  Our  mission 
is  a  continuous  and  steady  development  of  conscientious- 
ness, a  moral  and  religious  growth,  keeping  pace  with 
advancing  intelligence,  science  and  liberty.  AVe  attain  to 
it  by  those  common  virtues  which  our  fathers  exercised  : 
honesty,  frugality,  integrity,  and  unfaltering  devotion  to 
duty.  We  need  but  follow  the  old  plain  paths,  and,  un- 
dazzled  by  the  superficial  glitter  and  pretentious  show  of 
ambitious  self-seekers,  march  steadily  forward  to  the  at- 
tainments of  a  trained  and  vigorous  virtue,  to  purity, 
strength,  and  solidity.  Thus  will  we  keep  unsoiled  our 
inheritance,  and  transmit  it,  beautified  and  glorified,  to 
those  who  come  after  us. 

We  have  seen  the  forest  fall  before  the  strong  arm  of 
the  pioneer;  we  have  seen  the  shores  lined  with  masts, 
and  the  waters  white  with  sails ;  we  have  seen  the  tri- 
umphs of  restless,  cunning  labor;  but  not  in  physical 
power  nor  in  populous  cities,  not  in  factories  nor  palaces, 
nor  richly  laden  fleets,  are  the  elements  of  national  great- 
ness, nor  its  safety,  but  in  the  courage,  integrity,  self- 
denial,  and  temperance  of  the  people,  and  the  spirit  of 
mental  enterprise  and  moral  freedom  which  inspires  them. 


APPENDIX. 


H 


APPENDIX. 


I. 

DEED 

FROM     WESAMEQUEN     AND     WAMSUTTA     TO     WILLIAM      BRADFORD 
AND    OTHERS. 

Bratiforii  ffiobernour. 

1654.      A   DEED   APPOINTED   TO   BE   RECORDED. 

New  Plymouth,  November  the  29th,  1652. 
Know  all  raeu  by  these  pi-esents,  that  I,  Wesamequen,  and  Wara- 
sutta  my  son,  have  sold  unto  Mr.  William  Bradford,  Captain  Standish, 
Thomas  Southvvorth,  John  Winslow,  John  Cooke  and  their  associates, 
the  purchasers  or  old-comers,  all  the  tract  or  tracts  of  land  lying  three 
miles  eastward  from  a  river  called  Cushenagg,  to  a  certain  harbour 
called  Acoaksett,  to  a  flat  rock  on  the  westward  side  of  the  said  harbour. 
And  whereas  the  said  harbour  divideth  itself  into  several  branches, 
the  westernmost  arme  to  be  the  bound,  and  all  the  tract  or  tracts  of  land 
from  the  said  westernmost  arme  to  the  said  river  of  Cushenagg,  three 
miles  eastward  of  the  same,  with  all  the  profits  and  benefits  within 
the  said  tract,  with  all  the  rivers,  creeks,  meadows,  necks  and  islands 
that  lye  in  or  before  the  same,  and  from  the  sea  upward  to  go  so  high 
that  the  English  may  not  be  annoyed  by  the  hunting  of  the  Indians  in 
any  sort  of  their  cattle.  And  I,  Wesamequen,  and  Wamsutta,  do 
promise  to  remove  all  the  Indians  within  a  year  from  the  date  hereof 
that  do  live  in  the  said  tract.  And  we,  the  said  Wesamequen  and  Wam- 
sutta, have  fully  bargained  and  sold  unto  the  aforesaid  Mr.  William 
Bradford,  Captain  Standish,  Thomas  Southworth,  John  Winslow, 
John  Cooke,  and  the  rest  of  their  associates,  the  purchasers  or  old- 
comers,  to  have  and  to  hold  for  them  and  their  heirs  and  assigns  for- 
ever. And  in  consideration  hereof,  we  the  above-mentioned  are  to 
pay  to  the  said  Wesamequen  and  Wamsutta  as  foUovveth  :  thirty  yards 
of  cloth,  eight  moose-skins,  fifteen  axes,  fifteen  hoes,  fifteen  pair  of 
breeches,  eight  blankets,  two  kettles,  one  cloak,  2£  in  loampan,  eight  pair 


60  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

stockings,  eight  pair  of  shoes,  one  iron  pot,  and  ten  shillings  in  another 
comoditie.    And  in  witness  hereof  we  have  interchangeably  set  to  our 
hands  the  day  and  year  above  written. 
In  the  Presence  of  JOHN  WINSLOW. 

Jonathan  Shaw.  JOHN  COOK. 

Samuel  Eddy.  WAMSUTTA.    His  mm  mark. 

[The  above  is  a  copy  of  the  deed  as  found  in  Ricketson's  History  of 
New  Bedford.  It  agrees  with  a  copy  in  the  "  Proprietors'  Records," 
book  4,  p.  1.] 

i 


II. 

ORDER    OF    INCORPORATION    OF    THE    TOWN    OF 
DARTMOUTH. 

[Extract  from  the  Plymouth  Colony  Records.] 

June  8.  Att  thisi  Court,  all  that  tracte  of  land  called  and  known  by 
the  name  of  Acushena,  Ponagansett  and  Coaksett,  is  allowed  by  the 
Court  to  bee  a  townshipe  :  and  the  inhabitants  thereof  have  libertie  to 
make  such  orders  as  may  conduce  to  theire  good  in  towne  consern- 
raents ;  and  that  the  said  towue  bee  heucforth  called  and  knowne  by 
the  name  of  Dartmouth.— [Fourth  Book  Court  Orders,  page  72.] 


APPENDIX.  61 

III. 

tp:rritorial  limits  of  Dartmouth. 

Dartmouth  was  thus  described  in  the  original  grant:  "  A  tract  or 
tracts  of  land  Icnovvn  by  the  name  of  Accusheua,  alias  Aquset,  enter- 
ing in  at  the  western  end  of  Nakata,  and  to  the  river  Cookset,  alias 
Ackees,  and  places  adjacent,  the  bounds  of  which  tract  fully  extend 
three  miles  to  the  eastward  of  the  most  easterly  part  of  the  river  or 
bay  Accushenah  aforesaid,  and  so  along  the  sea-side  to  the  river  called 
Cookset  lying  on  the  west  side  of  Point  Pirrll,  and  to  the  westermost 
side  of  any  branch  of  the  aforesaid  river,  and  extending  eight  miles 
into  the  woods  with  all  marshes,  meadows,  rivers,  waters,  woods,  and 
appurtenances  thereto  belonging."— [Baylies'  New  Plymouth,  part  ii, 
p.  231.] 


IV. 
THE   RUSSELL   FAMILY. 

BY   WILLIAM    T.    RUSSELL. 

[There  are,  it  is  believed,  one  or  two  errors  in  the  dates  given  in  this 
account,  but  it  has  been  thought  best  to  give  it  as  it  was  prepared  by 
the  writer  in  184'!:.] 

John  Russell  was  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  the  town  of 
Dartmouth,  and  the  first  of  the  name  of  whom  we  have  any  knowl- 
edge, that  settled  in  this  part  of  the  country.  About  1050  he  removed 
from  Taunton  and  established  an  iron  foundry  at  Kussell's  Mills  in 
Dartmouth,  in  company  with  Anthony  Slocum.  In  1G54  John  Russell 
represented  the  town  of  Dartmouth  at  the  Old  Colony  Court  in  Ply- 
mouth. 

There  is  a  record  of  a  confirmatory  deed  of  land  to  John  Russell 
from  William  Bradford,  governor  of  the  colony,  in  1C94. 

Joseph  Russell,  Senr.,  son  of  the  aforementioned  John  Russell,  and 
great-great-grandfather  of  the  present  generation,  settled  within  what 
is  now  the  limits  of  the  town  of  New  Bedford,  at  what  time  is  not 
known,  but  previous  to  1711.     His  house  stood  near  the  site  of  the 


62  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

stone  house  known  as  the  Tyson  house,  and  now  owned  by  H.  G.  O. 
Colby.  The  original  well  which  belonged  to  his  house  is  now  in  the 
cellar  of  the  Tyson  house,  and  is  still  in  use.  Of  his  birth  or  death 
we  have  no  records. 

Joseph  Russell,  Jr.,  son  of  the  aforementioned  Joseph  Russell,  Senr., 
lived  on  County  street  near  the  little  school-house  opposite  John  C. 
Haskell's.  This  house  was  standing  within  the  memory  of  some  of 
the  oldest  inhabitants ;  and  his  well  is  still  remaining  in  the  school- 
house  yard. 

There  is  a  record  of  a  confirmatory  title  to  Joseph  Russell,  Jr.,  of 
this  homestead,  dated  25th  May,  1711,  signed  by  Samuel  Hammond, 
Benjamin  Hammond,  and  Benjamin  Crane,  surveyor,  "  her  Majesties 
[Queen  Anne's]  Justices  of  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  for  the  county 
of  Bristol."  One  of  the  sons  of  Joseph  Russell,  Jr.,  was  the  ancestor 
of  the  Seth  Russell  branch  of  the  family  of  Russell. 

Joseph  Russell,  son  of  the  aforementioned  Joseph  Russell,  Jr.,  and 
grandfather  of  tlie  present  generation,  was  born  8th  Oct.,  1719,  and 
died  16th  Oct.,  1804.  His  house  stood  on  the  County  road,  between 
the  court  house  and  Charles  W.  Morgan's  house. 

He  first  established  the  whale  fishery  in  New  Bedford.  In  the  earli- 
est stages  of  that  business,  sloops  only  of  40  or  50  tons  were  em- 
ployed. These  vessels  ventured  out  to  sea  in  the  Summer  months 
only,  and  no  further  thdn  the  Capes  of  Virginia  and  Cape  Hatteras, 
and  took  especial  care  to  return  in  port  before  the  equinox  gales  in 
September.  They  were  generally  successful  in  taking  sperm  whales, 
and  brought  home  the  blubber  and  tried  it  out  on  shore. 

As  their  experience  increased,  larger  vessels  were  employed,  and 
they  ventured  as  far  as  the  Bay  of  Mexico ;  and  finally,  during  his  life, 
ships  ventured  round  Cape  Horn  to  the  Pacific  ocean  for  sperm  whales. 

Joseph  Russell  first  established  a  sperm  oil  factory  in  New  Bedford. 
The  building  stood  on  the  north  side  of  the  square,  foot  of  Centre 
street.  The  act  of  refining  spermaceti  in  those  days  was  known  to 
but  few,  and  kept  by  them  a  profound  secret.  Joseph  Russell  em- 
ployed a  Mr.  Chafi'ee  for  a  number  of  years,  at  a  salary  of  8500  a  year, 
to  do  his  refining,— an  enormous  sum  for  those  days.  While  at  work, 
ChaflTee  was  shut  up  by  himself,  that  no  one  should  steal  his  wonderful 
art. 

Joseph  Russell  was  a  shrewd,  enterprising  man.  At  one  time  he 
carried  on  quite  an  extensive  mercantile  businessr  In  1770,  in  part- 
nership with  his  son  Barnabas,  he  owned,  in  addition  to  several  whal- 
ing vessels,  several  vessels  trading  to  southern  ports  and  the  "West 
India  islands. 

They  kept  a  store  at  the  foot  of  Centre  street,  and  imported  their 
goods  from  London  by  the  way  of  Boston,  and  their  West  India  goods 
in  their  own  vessels,  and  up  to  the  time  of  the  revolutionary  war  their 


APPENDIX.  63 

busiuess  was  in  a  very  prosperous  state.  The  war  put  au  end  to  their 
prosperity.  Their  vessels  were  talcen,  and  tlieir  losses  by  the  depre- 
ciation of  the  continental  paper  money  left  them,  at  the  close  of  the 
war,  but  little  besides  their  real  estate. 

The  Eussells  and  Kemptons  \vere  the  original  proprietors  of  the 
land  comprising  the  limits  of  the  town  of  New  Bedford  as  it  is  at  the 
present  day.  Their  tract  together  extended  from  near  Clark's  Cove, 
and  running  north  to  somewhere  about  Smith  street,  and  from  the 
river,  west,  indefinitely  to  undivided  lands,  as  appears  by  a  confirma- 
tory title  to  Joseph  Russell,  Jr.,  by  "her  Majesties  Justices  of  the 
Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  for  thfe  County  of  Bristol,"  dated  May  25th, 
1711 ;  and  a  similar  title  to  Manasseh  Kempton,  dated  31st  May,  1711. 
The  division  line  between  Joseph  Russell,  Jr.,  and  Manasseh  Kemp- 
ton,  was  between  William  and  Elm  streets,  and  running  west  from  the 
river  to  undivided  lands. 

Joseph  and  Caleb  Russell,  sons  of  Joseph  Russell,  Jr.,  inherited  the 
above  described  tract  of  land,  extending  from  the  hill  north  of  Clark's 
Cove  on  County  road,  and  running  north  to  between  William  and  Elm 
streets,  and  from  the  river,  westerly,  to  about  a  mile  w^est  of  County 
road. 

Their  division  line  was  between  Bedford  and  Russell  streets  (a  part 
of  the  division  wall  is  still  remaining,)  Joseph  having  the  north  part 
and  Caleb  the  soulli  part.  Caleb  Russell  was  the  grandfather  of  the 
present  Reuben  Russell,  and  father  of  the  Joseph  Russell  who  settled 
in  Boston  and  was  in  business  there  under  the  firm  of  JeflTrey  &  Rus- 
sell.* 

The  original  proprietors  of  land  on  the  west  side  of  the  Acushnet 
river,  beginning  at  Clark's  Point  and  following  the  County  road  to  the 
Head  of  the  River,  were  taken  in  rotation  as  follows  : 

First.  —  Benjamin  Allen,  who  owned  the  whole  of  Clark's  Point, 
and  as  far  north  as  the  brow  of  the  hill  on  County  road,  leading  down 
to  Clark's  Cove. 

Second.  —  Joseph  Russell,  Senr. 

Third.  —  Joseph  Russell,  Jr.  Father  and  son,  they  were  both  living 
in  1711.  They  were  at  that  date  proprietors  of  all  that  part  of  New 
Bedford  south  of  William  street,  and  from  the  river  west. 

Fourth.  —  Manasseh  Kempton. 

Fifth. Willis. 

Sixth.  —  Stephen  Peckham  was  a  large  proprietor.  His  tract  in- 
cluded Rodman's,  Coggeshall's,  Tallman's,  and  Timothy  G.  Coffin's 
farms,  as  they  are  at  the  present  day. 

Seventh. — John  Hathaway. 

*  See  "  Stars  and  Stripes  in  the  Thames." 


64  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Eigtith. Wrightington,  who  owned  about  the  Head  of  the 

River,  including  the  present  village  of  Acushnet,  on  both  sides  of  the 
river.    The  Swifts  purchased  of  the  Wrightingtons. 

Joseph  Rotch,  the  grandfather  of.the  present  William  Rotch,  re- 
moved from  Nantucket  to  New  Bedford  a  few  years  previous  to  the 
revolutionary  war,  and  purchased  of  Joseph  Russell  about  twenty 
acres  of  land,  which  included  the  present  Rotch's  wharf,  and  running 
west  to  Purchase  street  of  an  unequal  width.  He  wanted  more  laud 
on  the  shore  of  the  river  than  Joseph  Russell  was  willing  to  part  with, 
and  made  his  Jirst  purchase  of  land  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  with 
a  view  of  settling  there,  but  finally  acceded  to  Joseph  Russell's  terms. 
A  part  of  that  land  in  Fairhaven  is  still  in  possession  of  the  Rotch 
family.  There  is  a  record  of  the  burial  of  Joseph  Rotch,  27th  Nov., 
1785. 

Joseph  Rotch  gave  the  name  of  New  Bedford  to  the  town,  or  first 
proposed  it  should  be  called  Bedford ;  but  ascertaining  there  was  al- 
ready a  Bedford  in  Massachusetts,  it  was  named  by  way  of  distinction, 
New  Bedford. 

December,  1844. 


V. 

PRIMITIVE  WHALING. 

[Under  the  head  of  "  Whaling,"  I  find  in  Richard  A.  Pease's  valu- 
able "Historical  Sketches  of  Martha's  Vineyard,"  the  following  ex- 
tracts from  the  records  of  the  town  of  Edgartown  in  relation  to  the 
primitive  methods  of  whaling.] 

November  11,  1652.  Thomas  Daggett  and  William  AVecks  are  whale 
cutters  for  this  year.     Voted  the  day  above  written. 

April  13,  1653.  Ordered  by  the  town  that  the  whale  is  to  be  cut  out 
freely,  four  men  at  one  time,  and  four  at  another,  and  so  every  whale, 
beginning  at  the  east  end  of  the  town. 

April  15,  1690.  Voted  by  the  proprietors  of  the  whale  that  Mr. 
Sarson  and  William  Vinson  are  to  oversee  and  order  the  cutting  and- 
sharing  of  all  whales  that  shall  be  cast  on  shore  within  the  liberty  or 


APPENDIX.  05 

bounds  of  Edgartow-n  :  and  they  to  have  as  much  for  their  care  as  one 
cutter. 

Martha's  Vineyard,  February  19,  1G92.  The  proprietors  of  the  drift 
whale  at  Edgartown,  being  met  upon  occasion  of  a  whale  marlied  on 
their  beach,  seized  by  Benjamin  Smith  and  Mr.  Josepli  Norton,  in 
their  behalf,  yet  claimed  by  John  Steel,  harponeer,  on  a  whale  design, 
as  being  killed  by  him ;  which  occasioned  a  contract  about  said  whale 
between  said  parties,  about  cutting  and  securing  the  said  whale ;  the 
proprietors  accepting  of  said  contract,  have  and  unanimously  agree 
that  the  contract  be  ratified  and  confirmed;  and  that  Richard  Sarson, 
Esq.,  and  Mr.  Benjamin  Smith,  in  behalf  of  the  proprietors,  take  the 
same  into  their  custody,  and  preserve  the  said  whale  by  trying  and 
securing  the  oyl,  and  disbursing  as  they  find  needful;  and  that  no  dis- 
tribution be  made  of  the  said  whale,  or  eflTects,  till  after  fifteen  days 
are  expired  after  the  date  hereof,  that  so  such  persons  who  may  pre- 
tend an  interest  or  claim,  in  the  whale,  may  make  their  challenge; 
and  in  case  such  challenge  appear  sufficient  to  them,  then  they  may 
deliver  the  said  whale,  or  oyl  to  such  challenger;  otherwise  to  give 
notice  to  the  proprietors,  who  may  do  as  the  matter  may  require. 
This  agreement  was  ordered  to  be  entered  by  them,  the  day  and  year 
above  written. 

Per  me,  THOMAS  TRAPP,  Clerk. 

Martha's  Vineyard,  1792-3.  The  marks  of  the  whales  killed  by  John 
Butler  and  Thomas  Lothrop.  One  whale  lanced  near  or  over  the 
shoulder  blade,  near  the  left  shoulder  blade  only ;  another  killed  with 
an  iron  forward  in  the  left  side,  marked  W. ;  and  upon  the  right  side, 
marked  with  a  pocket  knife  T.  L. ;  and  the  other  hath  an  iron-hole 
over  the  right  shoulder  blade,  with  two  lance-holes  in  the  same  side, 
one  in  belly.  These  whales  were  all  killed  about  the  middle  of  Feb- 
ruary last  past;  all  great  whales,  betwixt  six  and  seven  and  eight  foot 
bone,  which  are  all  gone  from  us.  A  true  account  given  by  John  But- 
ler from  us  and  recorded. 

Per  me,  THOMAS  TRAPP,  Clerk. 

[From  the  Old  Colony  Records.] 

A  proposition  ordered  to  be  recorded,  which  was  sent  vnto  the  four 
towns,  viz.,  Sandwich,  Yarmouth,  Barnstable,  and  Eastham,  by 
order  of  the  Court  held  att  Plymouth,  October  the  first,  1661,  as 
followeth,  signed  by  Constant  Southworth,  Treasurer. 

Loueiug  Frinds :  Wheras  the  Generall  Court  was  pleased  to  make 
some  propositions  to  you  respecting  the  drift  fish  or  whales ;  and  in- 
case you  should  refuse  their  profler,  they  impowered  race,  though 
vnfltt,  to  farme  out  what  should  belonge  vnto  them  on  that  account ; 
I 


66  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

and  seeing  the  time  is  expired,  and  it  faales  [falls]  into  iny  hands  to 
dispose  of,  I  doe  therefore,  with  the  advise  of  the  court,  in  answare 
to  youer  remonstrance,  say,  that  if  you  will  duely  and  trewly  pay  to 
the  country  for  euery  whale  that  shall  come,  one  hogshead  of  oyle  att 
Boston,  where  I  shall  appoint,  and  that  current  and  marchantable, 
without  any  charge  or  trouble  to  the  countrey,  —  I  say,  for  peace  and 
quietnes  sake,  you  shall  haue  it  for  this  present  season,  leaueing  you 
and  the  Election  Court  to  seetle  it  soe  as  it  may  bee  to  satisfaction  on 
both  sides ;  and  incase  you  accept  not  of  this  tender,  to  send  it  within 
fourteen  days  after  date  heerof ;  and  if  I  heare  not  from  you,  I  shall  take 
it  for  grauuted  that  you  will  accept  of  it,  and  shall  expect  the  accom- 
plishment of  the  same. 

Youers  to  vse, 
/66/.  CONSTANT  SOUTHWOKTH, 

1  October.  Treasu. 

Prence, 
Gou"^. 

The  agents  for  the  towne  of  Yarmouth  appeering  att  this  Court,  ac- 
cording to  agreement,  to  debate  and  determine  a  difference  between 
them  and  others  about  whales,  were  desired  by  the  Court  to  giue  in 
thire  result  conserning  that  matter  vnto  the  Court,  as  being  that 
wheronto  they  would  stand ;  who  gaue  in  theire  answare  as  foUoweth : 

The  sixt  of  the  first  month,  61-C2. 
Right  Wor»*> :  Wee  intreat  youer  worshipes  reddily  to  accept  these 
few  lines  for  a  positiue  answare,  to  which  wee  promise  to  stand :  that 
the  Treasurer  shall  haue  the  two  barrells  of  oyle  out  of  each  whale, 
according  to  his  proposition  made  vnto  vs  for  the  yeare  past,  soe  as 
there  may  bee  a  full  end  of  what  troubles  hath  formerly  past  about  it. 
Witness  our  hands. 

ANTHONY  THACHER. 
766^-2.  ROBERT  DENIS. 

4  March.  THOMAS  BOARDMAN. 

[Prence  Gouernor.]  RICHARD  TAYLOR. 

In  reference  vnto  a  whale  brought  on  shore  to  Yarmouth  from  sea, 
the  Court  leaues  it  to  the  Treasurer  to  make  abatement  of  what  is  due 
to  the  countrey  therof,  by  law,  as  hee  shall  see  cause,  when  hee  treated 
with  those  that  brought  It  on  shore. 
7672. 
1  July. 
Prence  Gou^ 

[The  reader  of  these  early  whaling  records  will  be  reminded  of  that 
vivid  picture  of  primitive  whaling  which  Walter  Scott  has  given 
us  in  his  romance  of  the  pirate.    The  distribution  of  the  rich  and 


APPENDIX.  67 

coveted  yield  of  the  stranded  leviathan  upon  the  shore  of  the  Orkneys 
was  not,  however,  regulated  by  the  law  of  the  land,  but  by  the  law  of 
the  strongest.  "  Pit  yoursell  forward,  man,"  said  the  saving  sister 
of  the  timid  Triptolemus,  "there's  a  graip  to  ye  —  faint  heart  never 
wan  fair  lady,  a  pint  of  the  creature's  ulzic  wad  be  worth  siller  in  the 
lang  dark  nights  —  wha  kens  but  what  it  may  eat  weel  eneugh  and 
spare  butter?  "J 


VI. 

MEMORANDA  IN  RELATION  TO  THE  WHALE  FISH- 
ERY AND  THE  COMMERCE  OF  NEW  BEDFORD. 

BY   ARRAHAM    SHEARMAN,    JUNIOR. 

The  whale  fishery  appears  to  have  been  carried  on  from  Cape^  Cod 
prior  to  its  prosecution  from  any  other  part  of  America. 

In  the  year  1680  [1690?]  a  Mr.  Paddock  from  Cape  Cod  came  to  Nan- 
tucket to  instruct  the  English  how  to  whale  in  boats  from  the  shore, 
which  business  continued  good  till  17G0,  when  it  became  poor  by  the 
scarcity  of  whales.  In  the  spring  of  1726,  there  were  eighty-six  whales 
caught  here.  One  Mr.  Loper  previous  to  this  was  engaged  in  the 
business,  but  not  to  any  amount  worthy  of  record. — [Nantucket  In- 
quirer.] 

The  "Mr.  Loper"  above  referred  to  was  also  from  Cape  Cod,  and  a 
copy  was  recently  published  of  his  agreement  with  the  inhabitants  of 
the  island  to  prosecute  the  business  from  their  shores.  This  was  in 
the  year  1672. 

In  the  year  1770  there  were  employed  in  the  whale  fishery  from 
Nantucket,  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  sail  of  vessels,  sloops,  schoon- 
ers, and  brigs,  making  about  ten  thousand  tons,  and  navigated  by  about 
sixteen  hundred  men.  From  Sept.  11th  to  Oct.  25th  they  all  arrived  in 
port,  having  been  absent  from  four  to  six  months,  and  landed  fourteen 
thousand  and  fifty-eight  barrels  of  oil.  There  are  now  living  [March 
28,  1822]  ten  of  the  captains  that  were  in  said  fleet. — [Nantucket 
Inquirer.] 

The  whale  fishery  was  at  first  carried  on  in  boats  from  the  island. 
Right  whales  only  were  obtained  in  this  way. 


\ 


68  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

In  the  year  1759,  when  S.  Paddock  first  went  to  Nantucket,  (and  for 
a  few  years  prior  to  the  French  war,  which  commenced  in  175G,)  voy- 
ages were  made  to  the  eastward  of  Grand  Bank.  Vessels  generally 
made  two  trips  to  the  southward,  between  George's  Bank  and  the 
Capes  of  Virginia,  and  then  went  to  the  Bank. 

Voyages  were  afterwards  extended  to  the  Western  Islands,  Cape  de 
Verds,  and  Coast  of  Africa. 

It  was  not  till  after  the  termination  of  the  French  war  in  17G3,  that 
our  vessels  made  voyages  to  the  Straits  of  Belle  Isle  and  River  Saint 
Lawrence.  Large  whale  had  been  seen  there  by  a  Nantucket  man 
when  on  board  an  English  vessel  of  war,  which  led  to  their  pursuit  in 
that  quarter. 

Sperm  candles  were  first  manufactured  at  Newport  and  Providence. 


LIST    OF    SQUARE-RIGGED    VESSELS   BELONGING    TO    NEW 
BEDFORD  NOVEMBER  7th,  1803. 

[This  was  eight  years  before  Fairhaven  was  set  off  from  New  Bedford.] 

WHALEMEN. 

Bedford, 

Ships.     Diana, 281  tons. 

Barclay, 202 

Dolphin, 139 

Diana,  called  the  little  Diana, .  218 

Sarah,    314 

Winslow,     222 

Jefferson 2G7 

Rover, 213 

Hunter, 258 

Ann, 288 

Hanover,  (sealing,) 299 

Brigs.    Triton, 156 

Lucy, 90 

Fairhaven. 

Ships.     Exchange, '.   .    .  .  215 

Herald,      262 

Brigs.    Abby, 109 

Commerce, 144: 

Also  schooner  Betsey,  Bedford,  . 75 

Susan,  Fairhaven,     82 


APPENDIX.  69 

EMPLOYED   IX   FUEIGHTIXG   OR  OTHER   MERCHANT  BUSINESS. 

Bedford. 

Ships.     Elizabeth, ^ 237  tons. 

Nancies, 205 

Fame, 226 

Walljer, 281 

Ocean,   298 

Diligence, 227 

Brigs.    Joseph,      106 

Eunice, 174 

George,     172 

Almira,     180 

Betsey, 155 

Regulator, 

Fairhaven. 

Ships.     Mentor, 280 

Kingston, 293 

Joseph,     241 

Warren, 285 

Washington, 331 

William  &  Jane, 210 

Juno, 252 

President, 294 

Minerva 216 

William, 

Brigs.  Cyrus,  )  Village  of  Oxford,  that  part  of  Fairhaven  C  119 
Diana,  5         immediately  north  of  the  bridge.  (.    86 

Neptune, 164 

Olympus, 169 

Bellona, 140 

Swift, 137 

Ann, 90 

Westport. 

Brigs.     Hero, 162 

Friendship, 

Dartmouth.  ' 

Brig.      Maries,     

Suovv.    Fanther, 102 

Two  new  ships  at  Bedford,  owned  by  Lincoln  [Benjamin,]  Parker 
[John  Avery,]  Coggeshall  [John,  Jr.]  &c. 


70  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 


RECAPITULATION. 

Ships  at  Bedford, 20 

"      "  Fairhaven, .' 12    32 

Brigs  at  Bedford, 8 

"      "  Fairhaven, 9 

••      "  Westport, 2 

"      "  Dartmouth,      ,   .  .    2    21 

Whole  number, 53 

The  whole  number  of  tons  of  registered  shipping  on  the  custom- 
house books,  11  mo.  7,  1803,  are 12,191 

Tons  of  enrolled  shipping 6,353 

Tonnage  of  vessels  under  20  tons 172 

Whole  number  of  tons, 17,716 

Add  to  the  above  ships  Diligence  and  William,  which  are  not 
registered  at  New  Bedford,  say 500 

18,216 
About  30  sail,  or  nearly  6000  tons,  are  employed  in  the  freighting 
business. 
About  20  sail,  or  nearly  4000  tons,  in  whaling. 

Tonnage  as  above,     18,216 

Add  ships  America  and  Mary,  of  Bedford,  say 600 

And  ship  Ophelia  and  brig  Factor,  of  Fairhaven,  say 430 

Whole  tonnage,  1  mo.  18  [1804,] 19,146 


APPENDIX.  71 


VII. 


MEMORANDA   IN   RELATION   TO   THE   EARLY   HIS- 
TORY OF-  NEW  BEDFORD. 

BY    ABRAHAM   SHEARMAN,    JUNIOR. 

[The  following  are  copied  from  a  manuscript  prepared  by  Abraham 
Shearman,  Junior.] 

New  Bedford,  11  mo.  30,  1821. 

To  gratify  that  species  of  curiosity,  which  seems  naturally  to  lead 
the  human  mind  to  trace  the  origin  and  early  incidents  of  smaller 
communities  as  well  as  of  nations,  I  avail  myself  of  the  recollections 
of  an  aged  and  intelligent  citizen*  now  in  his  79th  year,  to  record 
some  particulars  of  the  first  settlement  of  New  Bedford,  in  connection 
with  some  account  of  the  whale  fishery  to  which  it  owed  its  origin, 
and  has  been  principally  indebted  for  its  prosperity. 

The  township  of  Dartmouth,  in  its  original  extent,  as  purchased  of 
the  good  old  Massasoit  in  1652,  and  as  it  remained  till  divided  in  1787, 
embraced  an  extent  of  20  miles  of  sea-coast,  without  including  the 
shores  of  its  harbours,  of  which  Accushnet,  Aponeganset,  and  Acoaxet 
were  its  principal. 

In  the  year  1751,  when  our  informant  was  nine  years  of  age,  there 
were  two  or  three  vessels  from  Aponeganset  river,  in  the  whale  fish- 
ery, the  owners  of  which,  John  Wady  and  Daniel  Wood,  he  well  rec- 
ollects ;  and  he  thinks  there  were  one  or  two  from  Acushnet,  the  west 
side  of  the  river,  and  peihaps  one  or  two  from  the  east  side,  the  former 
owned  by  Joseph  and  Caleb  Russell. 

Whales  were  then  principally  taken  on  what  was  called  the  Southern 
ground,  between  George's  Bank  and  the  Capes  of  Virginia,  and  voy- 
ages were  of  four  to  six  weeks'  continuance  ;  but  the  fishery  was  about 
this  time  extended  to  the  Grand  Bank  of  Newfoundland,  or  rather  to 
the  eastward  of  it,  and  the  voyages  lengthened  to  three  months. 

Previous  to  the  year  1760,  more  vessels  were  fitted  from  Aponegan- 

*  John  Howland,  \vho  gave  !Mr.  Shearman  much  of  the  information  contained  in 
his  statement,  and  who  came  to  Acushnet  in  l"fi5,  sailed  from  that  part  of  Dartmouth 
as  early  as  1760.  He  became  a  shipmaster,  and  was  engaged  in  both  the  whaliug  and 
trading  branches  of  commerce.  He  was  owner  of  the  ship  Fame  contained  in  Mr. 
Shearman's  list  of  our  merchants'  marine  in  1803.  His  journal,  which  I  have  re- 
cently examined,  contains  very  full  accounts  of  his  early  whaling  voyages.  The 
house  in  which  he  lived  and  died  is  still  sUinding,  and  is  the  second  on  the  west  side 
of  Water  street,  soutli  of  School.  He  Avas  much  interested  in  our  town  affairs,  and 
highly  useful  in  the  transaction  of  the  public  business.  He  was  the  father  of  John 
Howland,  Jr.,  and  the  Hon.  James  Howland,  2il,  for  many  years  successful  mer- 
chants under  the  tlnn  of  Jno.  &  Jas.  Howland.  At  the  time  of  its  ilissolution  it  wa.s, 
I  believe,  the  oldest  business  firm  among  us.  The  Hou.  George  Howland,  Jr.,  of  this 
city,  is  his  grandson. 


72  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

set  than  from  Accuslinet  river;  but  the  latter  having  the  advantage  of 
a  better  and  more  convenient  harbour,  now  began  to  attract  the  atten- 
tion of  men  of  business.  Our  informant  was  early  engaged  in  a  sea- 
faring life  from  Aponeganset,  and  mostly  in  the  fishery.  The  vessel 
to  which  he  was  attached  fitted  in  the  year  above-mentioned,  from 
what  was  afterwards  called  Bedford,  on  Accushnet  river,  and  he  thinks 
was  the  first  vessel,  now  owned  by  persons  in  its  immediate  vicinity, 
that  came  there  to  fit  out.  The  present  site  of  the  town  was  then  a 
forest,  through  which  a  rough  cartway  led  to  the  shore,  and  a  try- 
house  was  the  only  building  other  than  the  farm  houses  on  the  County 
road. 

There  were  then  standing  on  the  County  road  the  houses  of  Joseph 
Russell,  Caleb  Russell,  Ephraim  Kempton,  and  Samuel  Willis,  which 
are  still  remaining  [1821] ;  also  a  house  that  belonged  to  Joseph  Rus- 
sell, father  of  Joseph  and  Caleb,  which  stood  a  little  to  the  south  of 
the  house  now  occupied  by  William  R.  Rotch,*  near  a  well  which  is 
still  in  use.  The  site  of  a  house  that  belonged  to  Joseph  Russell, 
father  of  the  last  mentioned,  may  still  be  traced  on  the  east  side  of  the 
road,  uear  the  former  mansion  of  Caleb  Russell. 

In  tlie  winter  of  1760,  John  Loudon  f  purchased  of  Joseph  Russell 
an  acre  of  land  (the  first  lot  that  was  sold  from  his  homestead  farm)  a 
few  rods  south  of  what  is  now  called  the  Four  Corners  J ;  on  which 
he  erected  a  house  in  the  summer  of  1761.  His  object  was  to  carry  on 
shipbuilding.    His  own  trade  was  that  of  a  caliper. 

In  the  spring  of  the  same  year,  Benjamin  Taber§  purchased  a  lot 

*The  house  namecl  by  Mr.  Shearman  as  occupied  by  William  E.  Rotch,  is  now  the 
beautiful  residence  of  Dr.  Edward  P.  Abbe. 

t  John  Loudon,  the  first  purchaser  of  a  village  lot  from  .Joseph  Russell,  at  one  time 
kept  a  tavern.  His  house  was  burned  by  the  British.  He  has  a  granddaughter  and 
great-grandson  now  residing  here. 

X  The  Four  Corners  (the  intersection  of  Main  and  Water  streets)  was  for  many 
years  the  centre  of  business.  The  stone  post  at  the  northwest  corner  will  be  remem- 
bered by  many  who  will  probably  read  this. 

§  Benjamin  Taber's  first  shop  and  dwelling  was  a  building,  situated  on  a  lot  north 
of  the  residence  of  Samuel  Rodman,  Senr.,  now  the  bakery  of  Mr.  Snell.  It  was 
moved  there  from  the  shore  of  the  river,  where  it  had  been  occupied  for  some  pur 
pose  connected  with  the  whaling  business.  He  afterwards  bought  a  lot  on  the  north 
side  of  Main  street,  below  Water,  and  another  adjoining  the  east  end  and  north  of 
the  first  pui'chase.  He  was  the  builder  of  the  first  whalcboat  in  tlie  village ;  was  a 
prosperous  mechanic,  when  in  1778  the  raid  of  General  Gray  laid  all  his  buildings  in 
ashes.  His  son  Daniel  was  the  first  male  child  born  in  what  was  afterwards  called 
the  village  of  Bedford.  Taber's  wharf  is  built  out  from  that  part  of  his  purehase 
under  the  deed  of  Joseph  Russell,  and  his  descendants  own  a  large  part  of  it.  He 
had  five  children  and  a  step-child,  all  but  one  of  whom  lived  at  one  time  on  the  north 
side  of  Union  street,  on  the  property  I  have  described.  It  is  a  noticeable  fact  that  in 
the  "  Account  of  the  01<1  Men  of  New  Bedford,"  recently  reprinted  in  Ihe  New  Bed- 
fortl  Mercuiy  from  the  Boston  Herald,  are  found  tlie  names  of  four  of  Benjamin 
Taber's  giandchildren,  and  the  husband  of  his  step-daughter's  child.  No  two  of  the 
four  are  brothers. 


APPENDIX.  73 

of  land  farther  north,  and  built  a  shop  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on 
the  boat-building  and  block-making  business,  at  which  he  had  served 
an  apprenticeship  at  Nantucket. 

The  same  year,  1761,  John  Allen,  a  house-carpenter,  purchased  a  lot 
of  land  on  the  south  side  of  Prospect  street,*  on  which  he  built  a 
house  afterwards  sold  to  Barzillai  Myrick,  a  ship-carpenter. 

In  1762,  Gideon  Mosher,  who  was  also  a  mechanic,  purchased  a  lot 
of  land  and  built  a  house  on  the  north  side  of  Prospect  street ;  which 
he  afterwards  (1765)  sold  to  Benjamin  Taber. 

John  Allen's  lot  was  four  rods  wide,  and  extended  from  the  Four 
Corners  to  the  water,  the  same  on  which  Pinkham's  Inn  f  and  other 
buildings  now  stand.  Gideon  Mosher's  lot  was  of  the  same  width,  on 
the  north  side  of  the  street.  It  was  sold  by  him  to  Benjamin  Taber, 
who  at  the  same  time  purchased  four  rods  adjoining  to  it  on  the  north, 
and  extending,  with  the  other,  to  the  water. 

In  December  of  the  same  year,  1762,  Elnathan  Sampson,  of  Ware- 
ham,  purchased  a  lot  of  land  bounded  south  on  land  previously  sold 
to  John  Louden,  and  "north  and  east  on  land  left  for  ways  or  streets." 
These  "  ways  "  or  "streets"  were  what  are  now  called  the  Main  or 
Union,  and  Water  streets.  The  lot  (the  same  that  is  now  owned  by 
the  widows  Patty  Hussey  J  and  Ruth  Ross)  was  eight  rods  in  length 
from  east  to  west,  and  four  rods  wide,  and  was  purchased  for  £6  13  4. 
Less  than  one  third  of  its  front  on  Union  street  was  leased  the  last 
year  on  an  annual  ground  rent  of  ninety  dollars.  E.  Sampson  was  a 
blacksmith. 

Thus  was  the  infant  settlement  begun  by  industrious  and  enterpris- 
ing mechanics;  and  it  appears  from  the  phraseology  of  the  deed  above 
referred  to  that  it  was  then  expected  it  would  in  time  assume  the 
character  of  a  town. 

Capital,  however,  was  still  wanting  to  give  activity  to  business ;  but 
this  was  soon  after  supplied  to  a  very  considerable  extent  by  the  ac- 
quisition of  an  enterprising  merchant,  Joseph  Rotch  §  of  Nantucket, 


•That  part  of  Uniou  street  east  of  Water. 

t  Pinkham  was  from  Nantucket.  The  building  in  which  he  kept  his  tavern  be- 
k)nge<l  to  the  Nash  family.  It  liart  been  occupied  as  a  tavern  before  for  many  years 
by  .Joshua  Crocker.    This  pi-operty  was  on  the  southeast  corner. 

I  Patty  (Martha)  Ilussey  was  the  ilaugliter  of  Elnathan  Sampson.  She  kept  a  dry 
goods  store  in  her  house  on  the  southwest  corner  of  the  "  Four  Corners,"  which  was 
very  popular.  Iter  daughter,  a  resident  of  our  city,  is,  I  believe,  the  owner  of  Uiis 
property.    At  one  time  there  was  no  dry  goods  store  west  of  Water  street. 

§  Joseph  Rotch  went  to  Nantucket  early  in  the  eighteenth  century.  lie,  too,  was  a 
meclumic;  but  he  soon  became  a  leading  man  and  merchant  of  the  town  of  Sherbuni. 
Two  of  his  sons  are  connected  with  the  early  history  of  New  Bedford.  Francis  was 
liere  and  in  company  with  his  father.  I  find  "Joseph  Rotch  &  Son"  assessed  in 
Cushnet  in  1773,  real  estate  £570,  personal  £030. 

In  1778  Joseph  Rotch  liad  retui*ned  to  Nantucket.    His  son  Francis  remained  here 

J 


74  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

who  in  1765,  after  examining  several  different  situations,  fixed  on  this 
as  an  eligible  port  for  the  prosecution  of  the  whale  fishery.  He  made 
a  purchase  of  ten  acres  of  land,  in  one  body,  besides  a  number  of 
smaller  lots  in  different  parts  of  the  town,  and  removing  hither  him- 
self his  business  from  Nantucket  to  the  Acushnet.  To  him  the  village 
was  indebted  for  its  name.  The  property  of  the  soil  being  in  the  Rus- 
sell family,  and  that  being  the  family  name  of  the  Duke  of  Bedford, 
he  gave  it  the  name  which  it  has  since  continued  to  bear. 


VIII. 
THE  TEN  ACRE  LOT. 

DEED    FROM   JOSEPH    RUSSELL   OP    DARTMOUTH    TO   JOSEPH     KOTCH 
OF   SHERBURN. 

Know  all  Men,  That  I  .Joseph  Russell  of  Dartmouth  in  ye  County 
of  Bristol,  in  ye  Province  of  ye  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England, 
yeoman,  in  consideration  of  Two  Hundred  and  one  pound  seven  sil- 
lings  and  sixpence  to  me  in  hand  paid  by  Joseph  Rotch,  of  Sherburn 
in  ye  County  of  Nantucket  and  Province  affores'd  marchant;  the  re- 
ceipt whereof  I  do  hereby  acknowledge  and  myself  fully  satisfied  and 
paid;  have  given,  granted,  bargained  and  sold;  and  do  by  these  pres- 

aiKl  was  connected  in  business  with  Leonard  .Jarvis.    From  the  "  Acushnet  Tax  Bill " 

of  that  year  I  find  that  "  Rotch  and  Jarvis  "  were  taxed, 

Real  estate,  £4,100 

Personal,  13,000 

£17,100 
Bj-  far  the  largest  tax  paid  in  Bedforil  was  assessed  to  this  Ann. 

.Joseph  Rotch  returned  to  Xew  Bedford  and  died  here.  Francis  and  William  went 
abroad;  the  latter  returning  to  this  country  in  179.5  and  becoming  a  resident  of  our 
town,  which  had  recently  been  incorporated.  Francis  resided  abroad  until  alK)ut 
1811,  when  he  too  came  to  New  Bc<lford.  These  brothers  were  both  remarkable  men, 
and  there  is  much  in  the  historj-  of  both  to  interest  an<l  instruct.  Francis  left  no 
children.  His  brother,  the  elder  William  Rotch,  who  died  here  in  1828  in  his  94th 
year,  left  many  children.  From  these  two,  William  Rotch,  .Jr.,  and  Elizabeth  Rod- 
man, have  sprung  all  the  descendants  of  .Joseph  Rotch  of  Sherburn  now  resident 
among  us.    Seven  generations  of  the  family  have  lived  upon  the  soil  of  New  Betlford. 


APPENDIX.  75 

ents  fully  and  absolutely  give,  grant,  bargain,  aliene,  enfeof  &  con- 
flrra  unto  him  ye  s'd  Joseph  Kotcli,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  a  certain 
piece  or  parcel!  of  land  scituate,  lying  and  being  in  Dartmouth  afores'd 
and  at  ye  foot  of  my  homestead  farm,  containing  Ten  acres  and  eleven 
rods  by  estimation  be  ye  same  more  or  less  buted  and  bounded  as 
followeth  that  is. 

Beginning  at  a  stone  set  in  ye  ground  near  the  beach  a  south  westerly 
or  elbow  bounds  of  William  Maccoraber's  house  lot  and  from  thence 
East  thirty  degs.  northerly  to  ye  river;  then  again  from  ye  s'd  stone 
before  mentioned  and  from  thence  west  ten  rods  and  two  fifths  of  a 
rod  to  a  stone  set  in  ye  ground  ye  southwest  corner  bound  of  ye  s'd 
William  Maccombers  lot :  and  from  thence  North  in  s'd  Macomber's 
line  four  rods  and  seven  tenth  parts  of  a  rod  to  ye  line  of  William 
Kempton's  land ;  from  thence  in  s'd  Kempton's  line  fifty  nine  rods  to  a 
heap  of  stones  from  thence  South  twenty  two  rods  to  a  heap  of  stones 
a  little  to  ye  southward  of  a  little  spring  brook  and  from  thence  east 
thirty  four  degrees  Northerly  two  rods  to  a  heap  of  stones  on  ye  north 
side  of  s'd  brook ;  and  from  thence  east  eighty  rods  and  one  fifth  part 
of  a  rod  to  a  stone  set  into  ye  ground  about  one  rod  west  from  ye  west 
side  of  ye  Try  house  and  from  thence  two  rods  and  three  quarters  of 
a  rod  to  a  ledge  of  I'ocks  and  from  thence  East  to  ye  river,  running 
into  s'd  river  by  ye  south  side  of  a  great  ledge  of  rocks,  this  land 
bounds  Easterly  by  ye  river  and  ye  head  of  William  Macomber's  lots 
Northwardly  by  s'd  Macomber's  and  said  Kemtons  land,  southwardly 
and  westwardly  by  my  own  lands. 

Also  the  priveledge  of  a  drift  way  from  ye  same  to  ye  open  way  that 
goes  by  my  house  in  Common  with  ye  other  people  that  have  bought 
lots  at  ye  foot  of  my  s'd  Homestead.  Together  with  all  ye  priveledges 
&  appurtenances  thereof. 

To  Have  and  to  Hold  to  ye  s'd  Joseph  Rotch  his  heirs  and  assigns 
as  *  *  *  inheritance  in  fee  simple  forever.  And  I  the  s'd  Joseph 
Russell,  do  hereby  avouch  myself  to  be  the  sole  lawful  owner  of  ye 
bargained  premises  and  am  lawfully  seize^  and  that  they  are  free  of 
all  incumbrances  whatsoever  and  I  also  hereby  for  myself  my  heirs, 
exes.  &  adms.,  covenant  with  ye  s'd  Joseph  Rotch  his  heirs-  and 
assigns,  the  granted  and  bargained  premises  and  appurtenances  against 
ye  lawful  claims  and  demands  of  all  persons  what  so  ever  to  warant 
&  forever  defend,  always  excepting  and  reserving  the  priveledge  of 
a  drift  way  across  ye  s'd  premises  for  the  s'd  William  Macomber  his 
heirs  and  assigns  to  pass  and  repass  in 

And  Judith  Russell  the  wife  of  me,  ye  s'd  Joseph  Russell  doth  by 
these  presents,  freely  and  willingly  yield  up  and  surender  all  her  right 
of  dower  and  power  of  thirds  of,  in  and  unto  ye  same  unto  ye  s'd 
Joseph  Rotch  his  heirs  and  assigns,  to  hold  as  aftbres'd. 

In  Witness  Whereof  We  the  s'd  Joseph  Russell  and  Judith  Russell 


76  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

do  hereunto  set  our  Lands  and  senls  this  Twenty  eight  day  of  May  in 
ye  fifth  year  of  ye  Reign  of  King  George  the  Third  Anno  Donii  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  sixty  five. 

Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  JOSEPH  RUSSELL     [S] 

in  presence  of  JUDITH  RUSSELL     [S] 

Seth  Russell 

Berth"  Taber 

Bristol  ss.  Dortm"  29th  May  1765  Personally  appeared  Joseph 
Russell  and  acknowledged  the  within  and  above  to  be  his  act  &  deed, 
Before  me 

ELISHA  TOBEY,  Justice  of  tlie  Peace. 

Rec'd  July  22d  17G5  &  Recorded  per 

JAMES  WILLIAMS,  Regr. 

A  true  copy  from  Book  48,  Page  8,  of  Bristol  Co.  No.  Dist.  Land 
Records.    Attest : 

J.  E.  WILBAR,  Register. 


IX. 

THE  STARS   AND   STRIPES   IN   THE   THAMES. 

The  ships  Bedford,  Dartmouth,  Rebecca,  and  Maria,  have  become 
historical  vessels.  Their  respective  claims  to  this  position  are  now 
well  settled. 

For  many  years  it  was  supposed  that  to  the  last,  and  not  the  first, 
belonged  the  honor  of  displaying  the  flag  of  our  country  in  British 
waters.  The  old  Maria  was  long  the  flag  ship  ;  and  in  the  newspapers 
and  many  less  fugitive  publications  the  erroneous  story  was  so  often 
repeated  that  it  assumed  the  position  of  a  fixed  fact. 

It  was  passing  strange,  that  in  the  face  of  evidence  patent  to  the 
world,  not  only  the  newspapers,  but  Mrs.  Farrar,  a  granddaughter  of 
the  elder  William  Rotcli,  in  her  Becollections  of  Seventy  Tears,  and 
Mrs.  P.  A.  Hanaford,  in  her  Field,  Gunboat,  Hospital  and  Prison, 
should  publish  the  erroneous  statement.     "  I  have  often  heard  the  old 


APPENDIX.  77 

gentleman  [her  grandfather]  tell  with  pride  and  pleasure  that  the 
Maria  was  the  first  ship  that  ever  unfurled  the  flag  of  the  United  States 
in  the  Thames."  When  Mrs.  Farrar's  "  Recollections  "  which  con- 
tained this  declaration  appeared,  the  statement  was  contradicted 
through  the  papers,  by  the  publication  of  the  fact  that  when  the  flag 
was  displayed  in  the  Thames  in  February,  1783,  the  Maria  was  lying 
at  the  wharf  at  Nantucket,  never  having  been  at  sea. 

The  following  extract  from  Barnard's  History  of  England,  a  rare 
book,  was  published  at  the  same  time. 

"The  ship  Bedford,  Capt.  Moores,  belonging  to  the  Massachusetts, 
arrived  in  the  Downs  on  the  3d  of  February,  passed  Gravesend  on  the 
3d,  and  was  reported  at  the  custom  house  on  the  6th  instant.  She 
was  not  allowed  regular  entry  until  some  consultation  had  taken  place 
between  the  commissioners  of  the  customs  and  the  lords  of  council,  on 
account  of  the  many  acts  of  parliament  in  force  against  the  rebels  of 
America.  She  was  loaded  with  487  butts  of  whale  oil,  is  American 
built,  manned  wholly  by  American  seamen,  loears  the  rebel  colors,  and 
belongs  to  the  island  of  Nantucket,  in  Massachusetts.  This  is  the 
first  vessel  which  has  displayed  the  thirteen  rebellious  stripes  of  Amer- 
ica in  any  British  port.  The  vessel  is  at  Horseledour,  a  little  below 
the  Tower,  and  is  intended  to  return  immediately  to  New  England." 

These  two  statements  showed  beyond  question  that  the  Maria  did 
not,  and  that  the  Bedford  did  first  unfurl  the  flag  of  the  United  States 
in  the  waters  of  Great  Britain. 

In  a  letter  to  Hezekiah  Barnard,  dated  at  New  Bedford  8th  mo.  3d, 
1842,  William  Rotch,  Jr.,  thus  speaks  of  the  Bedford  and  her  voyage. 

*  *  *  <<iii  1781,  Admiral  Digby  granted  thirty  licenses  for  our 
[Nantucket]  vessels  to  go  after  whales.  I  was  then  connected  with 
my  father  and  Samuel  Kodman  in  business.  Considerable  oil  was  ob- 
tained in  1782.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  I  went  to  New  York  and  pro- 
cured from  Admiral  Digby  licenses  for  the  Bedford,  William  Mooers 
master,  and  I  think  the  Industry,  John  Chadwick  master.  They  loaded. 
The  Bedford  sailed  first,  and  arrived  in  the  Downs  on  the  23d  of  Feb- 
ruary, the  day  of  the  signing  of  the  preliminarj'  treaty  of  peace  be- 
tween the  United'States,  France,  and  England,*  and  went  up  to  Lon- 
don and  there  displayed  for  the  first  time  the  United  States  flag.  The 
Industry  arrived  afterwards,  and  was,  I  suppose,  the  second  to  display 
it.  The  widow  of  George  Hayley,  who  did  much  business  with  New 
England,  would  visit  the  old  Bedford  and  see  the  flag  displayed.  She 
was  the  sister  of  the  celebrated  John  Wilkes." 

William  Rotch,  Jr.,  might  have  added  to  his  brief  notice  of  Madam 
Ilayley,  that  a  more  intimate  connection  between  that  remarkable 
sister  of  a  still  more  remarkable  man,  than  a  visit  to  the  Rotches*  ship 

*  Mr.  Rotch  was  mistaken  in  both  these  dates.  The  Bedford  ari'ived  on  the  3d,  and 
the  treaty  was  signed  November  30,  IT^-i. 


78  CENTEXNIAL  CELEBRATIOX. 

Bedford  was  at  one  time  contemplated,  and  was  prevented  only  by  an 
accident.  This  is  not  the  place  to  give  the  romaulic  story  of  the 
marriage  engagement  between  Francis  Rotch,  the  owner  of  the  Dart- 
mouth and  the  brother  of  the  owner  of  the  Bedford,  and  Madam 
Hayley,  the  widow  of  Alderman  Hayley  and  sister  of  John  Wilives,  and 
of  its  disruption.  The  lady,  however,  found  a  Yankee  husband.  She 
married,  during  a  brief  visit  to  Boston,  a  Mr.  Jeffrey,  of  the  firm  of 
Jeffrey  &.  Kussell:  of  that  city.  Mr.  Russell  was  of  the  Dartmouth 
family,  aud  our  old  people  have  been  frequently  heard  to  speak  of  the 
sensation  which  Madame  Jeffrey  created  on  the  occasion  of  a  visit  she 
made  to  the  relations  of  her  husband's  partner  in  New  Bedford. 

The  ship  Maria  is  more  familiar  to  the  people  of  New  Bedford  than 
either  of  the  others.  She  was  built  for  a  privateer  at  Pembroke,  Mas- 
sachusetts, in  1782.  She  was  purchased  by  William  Rotch  and  taken 
to  Nantucket.  Her  first  voyage  was  to  London,  with  a  cargo  of  oil. 
After  that  voyage  she  was  employed  in  the  whaling  business.  She 
was  owned  by  Samuel  Rodman,  and  the  tradition  is  that  she  was  a 
bridal  present  from  his  father-iu-law  Rotch  on  the  occasion  of  the 
marriage  of  his  daughter  to  Mr.  Rodman.  When  the  removal  of  the 
family  to  New  Bedford  took  place,  the  Maria  became  a  New  Bedford 
ship,  and  remained  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Rodman  between  fifty  and 
sixty  years.  It  is  said  that  in  1859  there  was  a  balance  upon  the  credit 
side  of  her  account  of  $250,000.  Her  first  whaling  voyage  ended  on 
the  26th  of  September,  1795,  and  she  sailed  on  her  last  under  our  flag 
on  the  29th  of  September,  1859.  In  1863  she  was  sold  at  Talcahuana, 
and  passed  under  the  Chilian  flag.  Her  end  was  uncertain.  One  ac- 
count states  that  she  foundered  at  sea  in  1870,  and  another  that  she 
sunk  in  the  harbor  of  Payta. 

We  would  inform  the  author  of  "  The  History  of  the  American  Flag," 
who  has  given  an  honorable  place  to  these  two  historical  ships  in  his 
interesting  volume,  that  it  was  Mr.  Hardy  Hitch,  and  not  Mr.  Hardhitch, 
who  worked  upon  the  sails  of  the  Maria  in  1792  and  1856. 


APPENDIX.  79 


ACT  OF  INCORPORATION  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  NEW 
BEDFORD. 

AN   ACT    FOR   INCORPORATING   THE   EASTERLY   PART    OF   THE    TOWN 

OF    DARTMOUTH,    IN    THE    COUNTY    OF    BRISTOL,    INTO   A 

SEPARATE   TOWN,    BY   THE   NAME    OF 

NEW   BEDFORD. 

February  23d,  1787. 
lie  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General  Court 

assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of -the  same  : 

That  the  lands  hereafter  described,  to  wit,  beginning  at  a  bridge 
lying  across  a  stream  that  runs  through  the  beach  by  a  place  called 
Clark's  Cove,  thence  running  northerly  as  the  main  branch  of  the 
stream  runs,  till  it  comes  to  a  little  bridge  lying  across  the  County 
road,  at  the  foot  of  a  hill  about  twenty  rods  to  the  eastward  of  the 
dwelling-house  where  James  Peckham,  deceased,  last  dwelt ;  thence 
northerly  on  a  strait  line  to  Nathaniel  Spooner's  saw-mill ;  from  thence 
northerly  ou  the  west  side  of  Bolton's  cedar  swamp,  till  it  comes  to 
the  dividing  line  between  Dartmouth  and  Freetown,  near  the  place 
called  Aaron's  causeway;  thence  east  twenty-two  degrees  and  one  half 
north,  in  the  dividing  line  between  said  towns  to  a  rock  known  by  the 
name  of  Peaked  Rock;  thence  southerly  by  the  County  road  that  leads 
from  Dartmouth  to  Boston,  one  hundred  and  eight  rods  to  the  south- 
west corner  of  Ebenezer  Lewis' homestead  farm;  thence  east  about 
three  hundred  rods  in  the  dividing  line  between  Eochester  and  Dart- 
mouth, to  a  large  white  pine  tree,  marked  on  three  sides;  thence  south 
six  degrees  and  one  half  east,  in  the  dividing  line  between  Dartmouth 
and  Rochester  to  a  heap  of  stones  by  the  sea;  thence  westerly  to  the 
first  mentioned  bounds  ;  with  all  the  islands  heretofore  known  to  be  a 
part  of  Acquishnot  village,  with  the  inhabitants  dwelling  on  the  lands 
above  described,  be,  and  they  are  hereby  incorporated  into  a  town  by 
the  name  of  New  Bedford;  and  the  said  town  is  hereby  invested  with 
all  the  powers,  privileges  and  immunities  to  which  towns  within  this 
Commonwealth  are  or  may  be  entitled,  agreeable  to  the  Constitution 
and  laws  of  said  Commonwealth. 

Provided,  nevertheless,  and  be  it  further  enacted.  That  any  of  the  in- 
habitants now  dwelling  on  the  above  described  lands,  who  are  or  may 
be  still  desirous  of  belonging  to  the  town  of  Dartmouth,  shall  at  any 
time,  within  two  years  from  the  passage  of  this  act,  by  returning  their 
names  into  the  Secretary's  office,  and  signifying  their  desire  of  belong- 
ing to  said  Dartmouth,  have  that  privilege;  and  shall,  with  their  polls 


80  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

and  estates,  belong  to  and  be  a  part  of  the  said  Dartmouth ;  they  pay- 
ing their  proportion  of  all  taxes,  which  shall  have  been  laid  on  the 
said  village  of  Acquishnot,  or  town  of  New  Bedford,  previously  to 
their  thus  returning  their  names,  as  they  would  by  law  have  been 
holden  to  pay,  had  they  continued  and  been  a  part  of  the  town  of  New 
Bedford. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  That  the  inhabitants  of  the 
said  town  of  New  Bedford  shall  pay  all  the  arears  of  taxes  which  have 
been  assessed  upon  them,  and  their  proportionable  part  of  what  re- 
mains unpaid  of  the  beef  tax,  so  called,  together  with  their  proportion 
of  all  debts  that  are  now  due  from  the  said  town  of  Dartmouth,  and 
shall  support  their  own  poor. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  That  the  public  lands,  and 
the  buildings  standing  thereon,  also  the  town's  stock  of  powder,  and 
other  town's  property,  shall  be  estimated  and  divided  in  the  same  pro- 
portion that  each  village  paid  in  the  last  State  tax,  by  committees  to 
be  appointed  for  that  purpose,  at  their  annual  town  meeting  in  March 
or  April  next;  and  whatever  sum  shall  be  found  due  to  the  town  of 
Dartmouth  in  consequence  of  the  work-house,  standing  within  the 
line  of  New  Bedford,  as  shall  be  reported  by  said  committees,  the  in- 
habitants of  said  New  Bedford  shall  pay  to  the  said  town  of  Dart- 
mouth. 

And  be  it  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  That  Elisha  May,  Esq., 
be,  and  he  is  hereby  empowered,  to  issue  his  warrant  directed  to  some 
principal  inhabitant,  requiring  him  to  warn  and  give  notice  to  the  in- 
habitants of  the  said  town  of  New  Bedford  to  assemble  and  meet  at 
some  suitable  place  in  the  said  town,  to  choose  all  such  town  officers 
as  towns  are  required  to  choose  at  their  annual  town  meetings  in  the 
month  of  March  or  April  annually. 


APPENDIX.  81 

XL 

INCORPORATION    OF    THE   TOWN   OF   FAIRHAVEN. 

AN    ACT   TO    ESTABLISH   THE   TOAVN    OF   FAIRHAVEN. 

February  22d,  1812. 

Sec.  1.  The  easterly  part  of  New  Bedford,  in  the  County  of  Bristol, 
as  described  within  the  following  bounds,  with  the  inhabitants  thereon, 
be,  and  they  are  hereby  incorporated  into  a  separate  town  by  the  name 
of  Fairhaven,  viz. :  Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  Acushnet  river,  thence 
northerly  by  said  river  until  it  comes  to  the  north  side  of  a  bridge  at 
the  head  of  said  river;  thence  westerly  by  the  north  side  of  the  high- 
way to  Swift's  Corner  (so  called) ;  thence  northerly  by  the  easterly 
side  of  the  highway  which  leads  toRounseville's  furnace  until  it  comes 
to  Freetown  line ;  thence  easterly  by  the  line  of  said  Freetown  till  it 
comes  to  Peaked  Rock  (so  called,)  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  town 
of  New  Bedford  ;  thence  southerly  by  Rochester  line  till  it  comes  to 
Buzzard's d3ay ;  thence  by  said  bay  to  the  first  mentioned  bound.  And 
the  said  town  of  Fairhaven  is  hereby  vested  with  all  the  powers,  priv- 
ileges, rights  and  immunities,  and  suljject  to  all  the  duties  and  requi- 
sitions to  which  other  towns  are  entitled  and  subjected  by  the  consti- 
tution and  laws  of  this  Commonwealth. 

Sec.  2.  Be  it  further  enacted,  that  of  all  State  and  County  taxes 
which  shall  be  levied  and  required  of  said  town,  previous  to  a  new 
valuation,  the  said  town  of  Fairhaven  shall  pay  three  tenth  parts 
thereof. 

Sec.  3.  Be  it  further  enacted,  that  all  the  expenses  arising  for  the 
support  of  the  poor  of  said  town  of  New  Bedford,  with  whom  it  is 
now  chargeable,  together  with  such  poor  as  have  removed  out  of  said 
town  prior  to  this  act  of  incorporation,  but  who  may  hereafter  lawfully 
return  to  said  town  for  support,  shall  be  divided  between  the  two 
towns  in  proportion  to  the  taxes  which  they  are  liable  to  pay  respect- 
ively, according  to  this  act. 

Sec.  4.  Be  it  further  enacted,  that  John  Hawes,  Esquire,  be,  and  he 
is  hereby  authorized  to  issue  his  warrant,  directed  to  some  suitable 
inhabitant  of  Fairhaven,  requiring  him  to  notify  and  warn  the  inhab- 
itants thereof,  qualified  to  vote  for  town  officers,  to  meet  at  such  con- 
venient time  and  place  as  shall  be  expressed  in  his  said  warrant,  to 
choose  such  officers  as  towns  are  by  law  authorized  to  choose  in  the 
months  of  March  or  April,  annually.  And  that  the  said  John  Hawes, 
Esquire,  be,  and  he  is  hereby  authorized  and  empowered  to  preside  at 
said  meeting  during  the  election  of  a  moderator,  and  to  exercise  all 
the  powers  and  do  all  the  duties  which  town  clerks  by  law  have  and 
do  perform  in  the  election  of  moderators  of  town  meetings. 

K 


82  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

XII. 

LINE  BETWEEN  NEW  BEDFORD  AND  DARTMOUTH 
ALTERED. 

AN    ACT    ALTERING   THE    DIVIDING   LINE    BETWEEN    THE   TOWNS   OF 
DARTMOUTH   AND   NEW   BEDFORD. 

Febkuary  19Lh,  1831. 
From  aud  after  the  passing  of  this  act,  the  dividing  line  between  the 
towns  of  Dartmouth  and  New  Bedford  shall  be  as  follows,  viz. :  Be- 
ginning at  the  head  of  Clark's  Cove,  thence  north  nine  and  one  half 
degrees  west,  six  rods  to  the  middle  of  the  bridge  in  the  road  leading 
across  said  beach;  thence  on  the  same  course  two  hundred  and  forty- 
six  I'ods  to  the  southeast  side  of  the  Aponaganset  road,  opposite  to 
the  bridge;  thence  north  twenty-six  degrees  west,  two  hundred  and 
seventy-six  rods  to  the  south  side  of  the  road  leading  from  New  Bed- 
ford to  Smith's  Mills,  opposite  to  the  westermost  bridge ;  thence 
north,  twenty-two  degrees  west,  about  one  hundred  and  ninety-four 
rods  to  a  large  peaked  rock  in  the  westerly  part  of  Eben^zer  Hath- 
away's  farm;  thence  north,  twenty-one  degrees  east,  about  two  hun- 
dred aud  sixty  rods  to  the  bridge  on  the  old  road  leading  to  Smith's 
Mills;  thence  north,  forty-seven  degrees  west,  about  five  hundred  and 
eighty-six  rods  to  a  marked  maple  tree  on  the  south  side  of  Philip 
Allen's  mill-dam ;  thence  north,  fifteen  degrees  east,  about  one  thou- 
sand and  seventy-three  rods  to  the  Freetown  line :  provided,  hoicever, 
that  the  lands  set  from  New  Bedford  to  Dartmouth,  or  from  Dartmouth 
to  New  Bedford,  by  the  establishment  of  the  line  as  aforesaid,  shall 
be  holden  to  pay  all  taxes  heretofore  assessed  upon  them,  the  same  as 
if  this  act  had  not  been  passed. 


I 


APPENDIX.  83 

XIII. 

PART    OF    DARTMOUTH   ANNEXED    TO    NEW    BED- 
FORD. 

AN  ACT  TO  ANNEX  A  PART  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  DARTMOUTH  TO 
THE  TOWN  OF  NEW  BEDFORD. 

March  20th,  1845. 

Section  1.  So  much  of  the  town  of  Dartmouth,  in  the  county  of 
Bristol,  as  lies  easterly  of  a  liue  beginning  at  a  point  near  the  north- 
west corner  of  Clark's  Cove  and  running  five  rods  east  of  Charles  A. 
Walker's  dwelling-house  in  a  direct  line  to  the  west  line  of  the  lane 
next  west  of  Melatiah  Hathaway's  dwelling-house,  and  theuce  to  the 
stone  monument  near  Allen's  Mills,  being  one  of  the  monuments  be- 
tween the  towns  of  New  Bedford  and  Dartmouth,  with  all  the  inhab- 
itants and  estates  thereon,  is  hereby  set  off  from  the  town  of  Dart- 
mouth and  annexed  to  the  town  of  New  Bedford. 

Section  2.  Said  inhabitants  and  estates  so  set  off  shall  be  liable  to 
pay  all  taxes  that  have  been  legally  assessed  on  them  by  the  town  of 
Dartmouth,  in  the  same  manner  as  if  this  act  had  not  been  passed. 

Section  3.  Said  town  of  New  Bedford  shall  pay  over  to  the  said 
town  of  Dartmouth  all  such  suras  of  money  as  shall  be  levied  and  col- 
lected from  the  inhabitants  and  estates  set  off  as  aforesaid,  for  their 
proportion  of  any  state  or  county  tax,  until  a  new  valuation  of  estates 
shall  be  made,  according  to  the  provisions  of  the  constitution. 

Section  4.  If  any  persons  who  have  heretofore  gained  a  legal  set- 
tlement in  the  town  of  Dartmouth  by  reason  of  residence  on  the  ter- 
ritory set  off  as  aforesaid,  or  by  having  been  proprietors  thereof,  or 
who  may  derive  such  settlement  from  any  such  resident  or  proprietor, 
shall  come  to  want  and  stand  in  need  of  relief  and  support,  they  shall 
be  relieved  and  supported  by  the  town  of  New  Bedford,  in  the  same 
manner  as  if  they  had  gained  a  legal  settlement  in  that  town. 


84  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

XIV. 

A  PART   OF  ACUSIINET  ANNEXED    TO    NEW   BED- 
FORD. 

AN   ACT   TO    ANNEX    A    PART   OF   THE   TOWN    OF    ACUSIINET   TO   THE 
CITY   OF   NEW   BEDFORD. 

Apiul  9tb,  1875. 

Sect.  1.  All  that  part  of  the  town  of  Acushnet,  with  all  the  inhab- 
itants, and  estates  therein,  lying  westerly  of  the  following  line,  to 
wit:  Beginning  at  the  stone  post  numbered  twenty-uiue,  at  Davis 
Corner,  so  called,  thence  running  north  three  degrees  west  to  a  stone 
post,  five  rods  easterly  of  the  house  of  Benjamin  Pecliham,  and  from 
thence  northerly  in  a  straight  line  to  the  stone  post  that  marks  the 
boundary  line  between  New  Bedford,  Freetown  and  Acushnet,  is  here- 
by set  off  from  the  town  of  Acushnet  and  annexed  to  the  city  of  New 
Bedford,  and  shall  constitute  a  part  of  the  first  ward  of  the  city  of  New 
Bedford  until  a  new  division  of  wards  is  made  in  said  city. 

Sect.  2.  All  taxes  already  assessed  by  the  town  of  Acushnet  to  the 
inhabitants  of  said  territory  hereby  set  off  and  annexed  shall  be  paid 
by  them  to  said  town  the  same  as  if  this  act  had  not  been  passed :  and 
all  paupers  who  have  gained  or  derived  a  settlement  in  said  town,  by 
a  settlement  gained  within  said  territory,  shall  be  relieved  and  sup- 
ported by  the  city  of  New  Bedford  in  the  same  manner  as  if  they  had 
a  legal  settlement  in  said  city. 

Sect.  3.  The  inhabitants  residing  on  the  said  territory  hereby  an- 
nexed to  the  city  of  New  Bedford,  shall  continue  to  be  a  part  of  the 
town  of  Acushnet  for  the  purpose  of  electing  a  representative  to  the 
general  court  until  the  next  apportionment  shall  be  made,  and  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  mayor  and  aldermen  of  the  city  of  New  Bedford  to 
make  a  true  list  of  all  the  persons  in  said  territory  qualified  to  vote  at 
said  election  as  required  by  law,  and  to  deliver  the  same  to  the  select- 
men of  Acushnet,  seven  days  at  least  before  said  election :  and  the 
same  shall  be  taken  and  used  by  the  said  selectmen  in  the  same  manner 
as  if  it  had  been  prepared  by  themselves. 

Sect.  4.  The  city  of  New  Bedford  shall  annually  pay  to  the  town  of 
Acushnet  from  and  after  the  time  when  this  act  takes  effect,  one 
twenty-eighth  part  of  all  the  state  and  county  taxes  thereafter  required 
of  said  town,  previous  to  a  new  state  valuation  or  new  basis  for  the 
apportionment  of  state  and  cohnty  taxes. 


APPENDIX.  85 

f 

XV. 

GENERAL  GRAY'S    RAID. 

[The  following  interesting  article  connected  with  the  destruction  of 
Bedford  in  1778  by  the  British  forces  under  General  Gray,  I  find  in  The 
Independent  Ledger  and  the  American  Advertiser,  Boston,  September 
28th,  1778.  The  paper  belongs  to  the  Free  Public  Library.  Attention 
has  been  called  to  it  by  the  librarian.] 

[From  the  Providence  Gazette.] 
The  following  extracts  from  General  Gray's  orders,  previous  to  tlie 
enemy's  disembariiation  at  Bedford,  are  sent  you  for  publication. 

MA.JOR-GEXERAL   GRAY'S   ORDERS. 

Ox  BOARD  THE  Carysfort,  September  4,  1778. 

When  the  enemy  are  so  posted  that  they  can  be  got  at,  the  Major- 
General  commands  the  troops  that  are  ordered  to  attack  them  to  march 
vigorously  up,  and  receive  their  fire,  till  they  come  very  close,  and 
upon  every  proper  opportunity  they  are  to  rush  upon  the  enemy,  with 
their  bayonets,  immediately  after  they  have  tlirown  their  fire,  without 
waiting  to  load  again  :  in  which  method  of  attack,  the  superior  cour- 
age and  strength  of  the  troops  must  always  be  crowned  with  glory 
aud  success.  The  Major-General  is  iu)pressed  witli  every  assurance, 
that  the  officers  and  men  are  so  thoroughly  convinced  of  the  great  ad- 
vantage they  have  over  the  enemy  in  this  mode  of  fighting,  aud  their 
great  zeal  for  the  service,  that  the  present  expedition  cannot  fail  of 
success,  but  do  them  honor,  and  answer  the  expectations  of  the  com- 
mander-in-chief, whose  opinion  of  these  troops  cannot  be  more  strongly 
manifested  than  by  sending  them  upon  this  essential  service. 

In  case  of  bad  w-eather,  or  other  accidents,  that  any  of  the  transports 
should  be  separated  from  the  fleet  and  fall  in  with  a  privateer,  so  as 
to  make  an  escape  impossible,  which  may  not  be  unlikely,  many  small 
ones  being  lurking  about  upon  the  watch,  the  Major-General  desires 
the  commanding  oflicer  of  each  transport  would  oblige  the  captain  of 
the  ship  to  bear  immediately  down  upon  such  privateer,  running  him 
directly  and  without  delay  on  board,  the  troops  being  ready  at  the 
critical  moment  to  enter  and  take  possession  of  the  vessel.  This  being 
properly  done,  will  ever  succeed,  the  enemy  not  being  aware  of  such 
an  attack,  and  the  troops  so  superior  in  every  respect  to  put  in  exe- 
cution. The  commanding  officers  are  to  be  answerable  that  no  houses  or 
barns  are  set  on  Jire  by  (he  soldiers,  unless  by  particular  orders  from 
Major-General  Gray.* 

♦Sixty-five  s'cars  ago,  thirty-tlirec  years  only  after  the  event,  a  Quaker  lady,  whose 
father  had  several  buildingti  burned  by  the  British  at  that  time,  was  heai-d  to  say 
that  General  Gray  did  not  intend  to  desti'oy  her  father's  houses.  That  a  distillery 
was  near,  which  was  first  sacked  and  then  burned,  affords  a  double  reason  why  Gen- 
eral Gray's  order  in  relation  to  the  homes  of  the  villagers  was  not  obeyed.  From 
what  is  known  of  General  Gray,  however,  we  have  reason  to  suppose  that  a  very 
.slight  reason  would  have  been  sufficient  to  have  called  forth  a  "particular  order." 
The  writer  of  the  Old  Dartmouth  Centennial  Ode  descriljes  the  raiders  aa 

*'  Crazed  by  tlie  demon  of  the  still," 
and  in  a  note  he  says,  "The  distilleiy  was  one  of  the  first  buildings  destroyed,  and 


86  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

The  publication  of  these  orders  (exclusive  of  the  valuable  purposes 
it  will  answer  by  preparing  our  troops  and  privateers  against  this 
mode  of  attack)  will  naturally  lead  us  to  the  following  alternative, 
viz. :  That  either  the  British  troops,  by  burning  the  houses  at  Bed- 
ford, have  not  shown  that  sacred  regard  to  discipline,  and  observance 
of  orders,  from  whence  alone  they  pretend  to  derive  a  superiority  over 
us ;  or,  that  the  late  conflagration  was  in  consequence  of  oi'ders  from 
General  Gray.  In  either  case  disgrace  must  attend  the  British  army. 
Four  thousand  chosen  men,  under  the  immediate  command  of  the 
magnanimous  General  Gray,  have  effected,  with  great  precaution,  what 
a  buccaneer  might  with  safety  accomplish  at  any  time.  Such  daily 
proofs  of  judgment  in  their  plans  of  operation,  and  the  spirit  and 
enterprise  with  which  these  plans  are  put  in  execution  must  (I  should 
imagine)  soon  convince  rebellion  of  the  vanity  of  opposition. 


XVI. 
TOWN   MEETING   IN    1814. 

VOTES    PASSED    JULY   21,    1814. 

Voted,  unanimously,  as  expressive  of  the  sense  of  the  inhabitants 
of  this  town,  that  inasmuch  as  we  have  been  uniformly  disapproved 
of  the  impolitic,  unnecessary  and  ruinous  war  in  which  the  United 
States  arc  engaged,  we  have  considered  it  our  duty  to  abstain,  and 
have  scrupulously  abstained  from  all  interest  and  concern  in  sending 
out  private  armed  vessels  to  harass  the  commerce  of  the  enemy,  and 
from  all  voluntary  acts  which  appeared  to  us  to  have  a  tendency  to 
prolong  the  duration,  encourage  the  prosecution,  or  increase  the  rav- 
ages of  the  "unprofitable  contest";  that  we  have  seen  with  disappro- 
bation several  private  armed  vessels  belonging  to  other  ports  taking 
shelter  in  our  peaceful  waters,  and  regret  that  we  have  not  the  au- 
thority of  law  wholly  to  exclude  them  from  our  harbour,  where  they 
serve  to  increase  our  dangers  and  to  excite  tumult,  disorder,  riot  and 
confusion. 

the  excesses  of  tlie  solrticrs  were,  no  doubt,  to  a  gi'cat  extent,  owing  to  the  contents 
of  the  rats. 


APPENDIX.  87 

Voted,  unanimously,  as  expressive  of  tlie  sense  of  this  town,  that 
private  armed  vessels,  while  cruising  in  various  climates  and  visiting 
ships  and  vessels  from  every  country,  are  extremely  liable  to  contract 
and  receive  on  board  infectious  diseases,  and  that  in  all  such  cases 
there  is  reason  to  suspect  that  such  vessels  and  the  persons,  baggage, 
clothing  and  goods  on  board  may  be  infected  with  some  contagious 
distemper. 

Voted,  unanimously,  as  expressive  of  the  sense  of  the  inhabitants 
of  this  town,  that  the  safety  of  the  inhabitants  thereof  I'equires  that 
any  private  armed  vessel  or  vessels  which  shall  arrive  or  be  bound 
into  the  harbour  of  New  Bedford,  from  any  port  or  place,  shall  be  re- 
quired to  perform  quarantine  during  a  term  of  not  less  than  forty 
days ;  and  that  the  Selectmen  and  Health  Committee  of  the  town  be 
requested  to  cause  all  such  vessels  to  perform  quarantine  at  such 
places  as  they  shall  appoint  and  under  such  restrictions  and  regula- 
tions as  they  may  judge  expedient. 

Voted,  That  the  privateer  called  the  Yankee,  now  in  this  port,  be 
ordered  by  the  Selectmen  immediately  on  quarantine  ground,  to  be 
designated  by  them,  for  forty  days. 

Voted,  That  the  town  will  indemnify  the  Selectmen  from  all  harm 
which  may  accrue  to  them  in  the  execution  of  their  duties  in  enforc- 
ing the  quarantine  laws,  as  well  in  regard  to  the  Yankee  privateer  as 
all  other  vessels. 

Voted,  That  the  following  persons  be  a  committee  of  safety,  whose 
business  will  be  to  advise  and  direct  in  measures  that  may  best  secure 
the  peace  and  safety  of  the  town  in  case  of  invasion  by  an  enemy. 

Roger  Haskell,  Samuel  Perry,  William  Hathaway,  Francis  Eotch, 
Rowland  R.  Crocker,  James  AVashburn,  Lemuel  Williams,  Jr.,  John 
A.  Parker,  Lewis  Ludlam,  Cornelius  Grinnell. 


XVII. 
NEW  BEDFORD   IN   THE   WAR   OF   1812-15. 

The  necessary  limitations  of  the  address  would  not  allow  of 
details  in  relation  to  the  second  war  with  Great  Britain.  A  few 
items  are  here  given.    In  another  part  of  the  appendix  will  be  found 


88  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

an  account  of  a  "  Town  Meeting  in  18U,"  which  clearly  illustrates  the 
feelings  of  the  people  in  relation  to  the  war  and  its  privateering  aux- 
iliaries. 

It  was  a  sad  war  for  our  little  community ;  for  the  commerce  of  the 
country  was  swept  from  the  ocean,  and  it  was  upon  the  ocean  alone 
that  the  inhabitants  of  New  Bedford  depended  for  support. 

The  losses  were  heavy  and  the  suffering  was  great;  and  there  are 
some  who  will  read  this  who  still  retain  a  vivid  recollection  of  the 
deprivations  which  followed  the  closing  of  the  ocean  highways  and 
cruising  grounds  to  the  enterprise  and  sliilful  daring  of  our  merchants 
and  sailors.  There  will  be  found  by  the  local  historian  who  shall  one 
day  look  minutely  into  the  events  of  the  three  years  conflict,  many 
incidents  connected  with  it  of  which  New  Bedford  and  its  vicinity  was 
the  scene,  that  will  reward  his  researches  and  be  found  interesting  to 
the  descendants  of  the  actors  then  upon  the  stage. 

There  was,  in  the  summer  of  1814,  a  large  detachment  of  the  militia 
of  this  part  of  the  state  ordered  to  New  Bedford  for  its  defence. 
There  were  at  that  time  probably  a  thousand  men  under  arms  in  the 
town,  including  our  own  military  companies. 

We  publish  the  names  of  the  members  of  the  two  New  Bedford  mili- 
tary companies  then  on  active  duty.  This  we  have  been  enabled  to 
do  by  an  examination  of  the  rosters  of  the  several  companies  com- 
posing the  command  of  Lieut. -Col.  Benjamin  Lincoln,  which  were  de- 
tached for  service  at  New  Bedford.  The  record  is  very  complete. 
This  valuable  contribution  to  our  local  aunals  is  in  the  possession  of 
the  Free  Public  Library,  to  which  institution  it  was  presented  by  Mrs. 
Caroline  Lincoln  Whitridge,  the  daughter  of  the  Lieutenant-Colonel 
in  command,  afterwards  Major-General  Benjamin  Lincoln. 

We  find  but  little  of  incident  in  this  military  record.  Several  courts- 
martial  were  held,  for  desertion  and  other  grave  offences.  One  poor 
boy-flfer,  who  said  he  did  not  mean  to  run  away,  was  sentenced  to 
close  confinement  during  his  term  of  service,  and  to  have  his  whiskey 
stopped.  Lucliy  sentence  for  the  boy.  One  officer  deserted  at  the 
first  alarm,  and  a  private  fled  beyond  the  reach  of  a  squad  sent  for 
him. 

Officers  of  the  Regiment. — Benjamin  Lincoln,  Lieut.-Col.  Com- 
manding; Edward  Pope,  Major;  John  Coggeshall,  Major  of  Artillery ; 
Elisha  Tobey,  Adjt. ;  William  Kempton,  Quartermaster;  Samuel  Perry, 
Surgeon;  Elijah  Wilbur,  Qr.  Mastr.  Segt. ;  Levi  Peirce,  Major;  Eben- 
ezer  Hunt,  Major;  Daniel  Lane,  Adjt.  Artly.  All  of  these  were  of 
New  Bedford,  excepting  Tobey,  Peirce,  Hart,  and  Lane. 

In  Captain  Reuben  Swift's  company,  formed  at  the  "Head  of  the 
River,"  there  were  the  following  men  from  New  Bedford. 

William  Swift,  1st  Sgt. ;  Allen  Bowen,  3d  do. ;  and  Nathaniel 
Spooner,  Lemuel  Armsby,  Elijah  Parker,  Jr.,  Oliver  Wolcott,  Peter 


APPENDIX.  89 

Taber,  Cornelius  Pope,  Samuel  Hammond,  William  Tobey,  3d,  Samuel 
J.  Tobey,  James  Wood,  John  Freeman,  Stephen  Wing,  2d,  James 
Davis,  Jr.,  Joshua  Spooner,  Stillman  Washburn,  G.  Weston,  Micah 
Spooner,  Jr.,  John  Williams,  Abraham  Reynolds,  Asa  Crapo,  Benja- 
min 8.  Hathaway,  Philip  Reynolds,  Privates. 

This  company  was  stationed  at  Clark's  Cove,  in  New  Bedford,  for 
the  purpose  of  forming  a  regular  guard  around  Clark's  Point  from  the 
Cove  to  the  Smoking  Rocks. 

The  only  New  Bedford  men  in  Captain  WUliam  Nye's  company  from 
Fairhaven,  were  the  captain,  Loam  Snow,  and  James  Taber. 

IXFAKTRY   COMPANY. 

Roll  of  Capt.  Nathaniel  Nelson's  company  of  detached  troops  sta- 
tioned at  New  Bedford,  ordered  out  by  Lieut.-Col.  Benjamin  Lincoln, 
June,  1814. 

Officers. — Nathaniel  Nelson,  Captain;  Job  Gray,  Jr.  (Fairhaven,  sick 
and  did  no  duty,)  Lieut;  George  Clark,  Ensign  *  *  ♦  *  ;  Benja- 
min Warren,  1st  Sgt. ;  Gamaliel  Hart,  2d  Sgt. ;  Nathaniel  Perry,  3d 
Sgt. ;  Thomas  Riddell,  4th  Sgt. ;  Charles  Hathaway,  Drill  Sgt. ;  David 
Rowland,  Corporal ;  James  Proud,  do. ;  Bohert  Tuckerman,  do. ;  Charles 
Covel  do. ;  Alanson  Caswell,  Drummer;  Charles  Pratt,  Fifer;  Abner 
Soule,  Captain's  Waiter. 

Privates. — David  Allen,  Joseph  Wilcox,  Josiah  L.  Bliss,  William 
Tuckerman,  Edward  Gardner,  Willet  Seabury,  Joseph  Merrett,  Na- 
thaniel Bassett,  Charles  Gilbert,  Benjamin  HammoncJ,  Nye  Holmes, 
Jonathan  Iloidand,  Jr.,  Elisha  Briggs,  William  W.  Kempton,  James 
Babcock,  Samuel  Proud,  Josiah  Wrnslow,  Ivory  C.  Albert,  Uriah  Head, 
Perry  Jenkins,  Russell  Wood,  Thomas  Kempton,  William  Lane,  Will- 
iam Cudvvorlh,  Heinan  Cushraan,  Oliver  Price,  Jr.,  Avery  Parker,  2d, 
John  Sisson,  Thomas  Dnrfee,  Stephen  Hovvland,  Elisha  Clark,  Moses 
Washburn,  Thomas  Burrell,  Charles  Wood,  Stanton  Burch,  Richard 
Hill,  Stephen  West,  Jr.,  John  Wadkins,  Jonathan  Ilaffords,  Benjamin 
Brownell,  David  Wilber,  Felix  Filuel,  Ezra  Hathaway,  »  *  *  * 
Warren  Mosher,  Noel  Taber,  John  Akin,  Benjamin  B.  Covell,  William 
Bliss,  Jr.,  Michael  Randall,  Elijah  Knap,  Tillinghast  Tompkins,  Elihu 
Mosher,  2d,  James  Haffords  (armorer,)  Merill  Hathaway,  Lsracl  Smith, 
Henry  Frederick,  Hampton  Peirce,  Gardner  Chase,  Benjamin  Douglas. 
Total,  70;  including  officers. 

The  preceding  company  was  stationed  in  New  Bedford,  ready  for 
service  at  a  moment's  warning;  did  fatigue  duty,  &c. 

All  the  members  of  this  company  were  of  New  Bedford  excepting 
Lieut.  Gray,  who  was  from  Fairhaven,  Charles  Wood,  who  was  from 
Dartmouth,  and  the  last  six  named  on  the  list,  who  were  from  Free 
town.    I  believe  that  four*  only  of  the  company  are  living.     Charles 

*  Robert  Tuckerman,  Jonathan  llowland,  Jr.,  Thomas  Durfee,  and  John  Akin. 


90  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Gilbert  was  killed  by  a  stupid  sentinel,  stationed  at  the  guu-house  on 
Spring  street,  near  Sixth.  He  was  going  the  rounds  in  the  night  in- 
specting the  posts,  and  not  answering  promptly  the  Jirst  demand  for 
the  countersign,  he  was  shot  and  instantly  killed.     [August,  187G.] 

ARTILLERY    COMPANY. 

Return  Pay-Roll  of  Capt.  Samuel  Stall's  company  of  artillery,  of  the 
2d  Brig.  5th  Division  of  Massachusetts  Militia,  stationed  in  New  Bed- 
ford, and  detached  by  order  of  Lieut. -Col.  Benjamin  Lincoln  : 

Oj?icers.— Samuel  Stall,  Capt. ;  Frederick  Mayhew,  1st  Lieut. ;  Hay- 
don  Coggeshall,  2d  Lieut. ;  Thomas  Earl,  Sergt. ;  George  S.  Dunham, 
do  ;  Thomas  Martin,  do. ;  Jesse  Haskell,  do.  ;  David  Kempton,  Corp. ; 
Thomas  Ellis,  do. ;  Peleg  Clarke,  do. ;  "Watson  Ellis,  do. ;  George  Cas- 
well, Drummer;  Russell  Booth,  Fifer;  John  Wrightington,  Matross. 

Privates. — Charles  Coggeshall,  Nathan  Perry,  Lloyd  Ilncland,  John 
Heath,  Nash  De  Cost,  Martin  Hathaway,  Sylvanus  Sowle,  Ira  Caswell, 
Isaac  Kempton,  Wing  Howland,  Josiah  Smith,  Thomas  Maxfleld, 
Abraham  Peirce,  Warren  Maxfleld,  James  Cannon,  Henry  Cofl[lu,  Bry- 
ant Macomber,  Henry  Place,  Jonathan  Glflbrd,  Avery  Parker,  Smith 
Stetson,  Griffin  Barney,  Jr.,  John  Reynolds,  Barnabas  Smith,  Ezekiel 
Tripp,  James  Howland,  3d,  Allen  Shearman,  Edmund  Jackson,  Joseph 
L.  Jenney,  John  P.  West,  Richard  West,  Isaac  Smith. 

New  Bedford,  August,  181-1. 

But  two  of  this  company  survive, — Lloyd  Howland,  a  resident  of 
New  Bedford,  and  John  Heath,  who  lives,  it  is  believed,  in  Brooklyn, 
N.  y.     [August,  187(5.] 


XVIII. 
THE    SHIP    REBECCA. 

BY    WILLIAM    T.    EUSSELL. 

[Prepared  December,  1844.] 
The  ship  Rebecca  was  the  first  ship  built  in  New  Bedford.     She  was 
launched  in  the  spring  of  1785.     George  Claghorn  was  the  master  car- 
penter, who  afterwards  built  the  frigate  Constitution,  the  pride  of  our 
navy. 


APPENDIX.  91 

The  Rebecca  was  owned  by  Joseph  llussell  and  his  sons  Barnabas 
and  Gilbert  Russell.  The  timber  of  which  she  was  built  was  chiefly 
cut  in  the  southwesterly  part  of  the  town,  now  covered  with  houses 
and  gardens.  She  measured  175  67-95  tons,  which  at  that  time  was 
considered  so  immensely  large  that  she  was  the  wonder  and  the  ad- 
miration of  all  the  country  round.  People  from  Taunton,  Bridge- 
water,  and  all  the  neighboring  towns,  came  to  New  Bedford  to  see  the 
big  ship.  There  was  a  woman  figure-head  carved  for  her,  and  when 
it  was  about  being  put  upon  her  a  number  of  the  Friends'  Society  re- 
monstrated against  so  vain  and  useless  an  ornament,  and  she  went  to 
sea  without  it. 

The  owners  of  the  Rebecca  had  some  difficulty  in  finding  a  man  of 
sufficient  experience  to  trust  with  the  command  of  so  big  a  ship.  Now 
we  have  a  schooner  of  larger  tonnage  running  to  New  York,  as  a 
packet;  (schooner  Richmond  is  180  tons.) 

James  Haydon  was  finally  selected  for  her  captain,  and  Cornelius 
Grinnell  chief  mate.  She  sailed  on  her  first  voyage  to  Philadelphia, 
from  thence  to  Liverpool.  The  second  voyage  Cornelius  Grinnell  was 
captain,  and  continued  to  command  her  for  six  years. 

The  Rebecca  was  the  first  American  whaleship  that  doubled  Cape 
Horn.  She  was  commanded  by  Captain  Kearsley,  and  made  a  success- 
ful voyage,  obtaining  a  cargo  of  sperm  oil  on  the  coast  of  Chili,  and 
returning  in  about  twelve  months. 

The  Rebecca  finally  made  a  disastrous  end.  She  sailed  from  Liver- 
pool for  New  York  in  the  autumn  of  1798,  commanded  by  Captain 
Gardner,  (the  father  of  the  present  Captains  Gardner,)  and  has  never 
been  heard  of  from  that  time  to  this. 

Note.— Capt.  Cornelius  Ilowland  an<l  Caleb  Greene,  Hie  sclioolmaster,  were  owners 
in  tlie  Rebecca  when  she  made  her  Paciflc  voyage.  Some  of  the  schooners  of  tlie 
present  day  are  nearly  four  times  the  size  of  the  Rebecca.  She  was  not  the  first  ship 
built  in  Bedford.  The  building  of  the  Dartmoutli  has  an  earlier  date,  and  our  late 
fellow-citizen  Thomas  Kempton  said  that  a  ship  called  the  Bedford  was  built  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Acuslinet  as  early  as  1770.  This  could  not  have  been  the  historic 
Bedford. 

Frederick  C.  Sanford,  of  Nantucket,  in  his  valuable  and  interesting  article  in  the 
Nantucket  Inquirer,  18.52,  on  the  Pioneers  of  the  Whale  Fishery,  says  that  "  in  1791 
our  ships  entered  the  Pacific."  This  is  the  year  that  the  Rel)ecca  doubled  Cape 
Horn.  Accounts  differ  as  to  which  took  the  lead  in  the  adventure,  Nantucket  or  New 
Bedford.  In  a  letter  dated  August  27111,  1S76,  Mr.  Sanford  says  that  "  in  consequence 
of  the  great  success  in  the  Pacific  of  ships  ft-om  London  and  Mr.  Rotch's  ships  from 
Dunkirk,  six  ships  were  in  17SK)  fitted  for  whaling  in  that  ocean  fi-om  Nantucket.  The 
Beaver  sailed  first,  August,  1791."  The  first  start  from  this  couptry  for  doubling 
Cape  Horn  was  no  doulit  from  Nantucket.  The  Rebecca  was  not  fitted  for  the  Pacific. 
Information  olitained  on  the  voy.ige  induced  the  captain  to  ti-y  his  luck  there.  Which 
of  the  two  ships  first  rounded  the  Cape  does  not  apjiear, — is  not  of  much  importjince. 

The  following  extracts  form  a  part  of  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Sanford's  interesting 
article.  His  description  of  the  vessels  and  the  men  employed  in  this  bold  enterprise, 
will  apply  III  the  New  Bedfonl  as  well  as  to  the  Nantu<'kt't  pioneers  engaged  in  it. 


92  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 


No  one  will  qucstloH  the  truth  of  the  portrait  he  has  drawn  of  the  hardy,  bold,  and 
entcii3rising  men  of  Nantucket,  who  were  the  world-renowned  leaders  in  this  extra- 
ordinary branch  of  the  world's  industrial  pursuits.  The  story  of  the  whalers  borders 
upon  the  romance  of  history,  and  deserves  an  abler  historian  than  any  who  have  yet 
attempted  to  relate  it.  Wlio  so  well  nualifled  as  the  writer  of  the  article  from  wliich 
we  have  quoted? 

"  In  1791  our  ships  entered  the  Pacific  in  pursuit  of  their  prey.  They  doubled  Cape 
Horn  in  a  class  of  vessels  that  would  be  considered  unsafe  at  this  day  to  perform  a 
summer  voyage  across  the  Atlantic,  small  in  size,  not  exceeding  2.50  tons  in  burthen, 
heavy,  dull  sailers,  without  copper  on  their  bottoms,  poorly  and  scantily  fitted  in- 
dee<l,  but  manned  with  men  of  an  iron  nerve,  and  an  energy  that  knew  no  turning, 
and  here  again  they  were  successful." 

"  I  am  fully  aware  that  New  Bedford  surpasses  all  other  places  engaged  in  the 
■whale  flsherj-,  in  wealth  and  prosperity;  smxess  has  followed  exertion  in  a  ratio  of 
one  hundred  fold,  and  there  are  very  few  places  in  our  counti-y  which  have  arisen  to 
such  a  height  of  prosi)erity  in  so  short  a  period.  It  seems  almost  the  work  of  an 
enchanter." 

"Other  places  have  eclipsed  Nantucket  of  late,  but  the  well-earne<l  fame  of  our 
sires  knows  no  diminution,  but  brightens  their  laurels  as  time  lessens  their  numbers. 
Nantucket  maj'  with  an  honest  pride  look  back  to  a  long  list  of  worthies,  men  filled 
with  interminable  perseverance  and  an  energy  that  defle<l  and  overcame  all  obsta. 
cles,  a  list  that  will  bear  no  unworthy  comparison  Avith  Samuel  Adams  and  his  rovo. 
lutionary  companions,  as  deserving  of  her  pride  as  the  jewels  of  Cornelia." 


XIX. 
INTERESTING  TOWN  MEETING,  JANUARY  4th,  1847. 

THE   LAST   TOWN   MEETING  ;    THE   WATER   STREET   CONTROVERSY. 

Vote  to  accept  Water  street  on  condition  that  bonds  are  given  to 
save  town  harmless. 

and  Maxfleld  Street  extension  accepted  to  Hillman  street  on  condi- 
tion, Jany.  21,  18-16. 

Town-meeting  in  relation  to  northerly  extention,  Jany.  4th,  1847. 

On  memorial  of  Samuel  Hodman  he  seeks  release  from  the  bond  for 
$2000  for  damages  to  George  Rowland. 

James  B.  Congdon  moderator  of  meeting. 

Edward  Merrill  moves  that  S.  Rodman  be  released  from  the  payment. 

Sampson  Perkins  moves  that  the  whole  subject  be  indefinitely  post- 
poned. 


APPENDIX.  93 

Thomas  D.  Eliot  moves  reference  to  committee. 

meeting  adjourned  to  afternoon. 

T.  D.  Eliot's  motion  withdrawn. 

motion  of  postponement  negatived. 

Edward  Merrill's  motion  carried  Y.  159,  N.  134.  S.  Kodman  to  be 
released  and  bond  cancelled. 

Another  meeting  called. 

Art.  1.  accep.  of  Water  to  Maxfield  St. 

discontinuance  of  Water  from  North  Street  to  its  northern  terminus. 

meeting  in  relation  to,  Jan.  11th,  1847,  James  B.  Congdon  moderator. 

moderator  declares  no  action  can  be  had  in  relation  to  the  layout  of 
the  streets  north  to  Maxfield. 

Thomas  Barstow  moves  the  indefiuite  postponement  of  the  propo- 
sition to  discontinue  the  street. 

Communication  from  George  Ilowland. 

Note.     The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  note  from  George  Howland. 

♦'To  the  citizens  of  New  Bedford  in  town  meeting  assembled.  I 
stand  ready,  whenever  the  town  will  discontinue  North  Water  street, 
from  the  north  side  of  North  street  to  the  north  side  of  contemplated 
Hillman  street  or  continuance  North  AVater  street  to  contemplated 
Maxfield  street,  to  refund  to  the  town  the  §2000  paid  me  for  damages 
for  land  taken  in  the  extention  of  said  Water  street,  northerly. 

Signed  GEORGE  HOWLAND. 

Another  communication  from  G.  Rowland. 

Note. — The  following  is  the  second  note  from  George  Howland, 

"  George  Howland  will  not  encumber  the  passage  now  used  from 
North  street  to  Samuel  Rodman's  wharf  for  5  years — and  at  any  time 
dui'ing  his  life  he  will  suffer  the  town  to  lay  out  Water  street  to  Max- 
field street  without  cost  so  far  as  he  is  concerned :  provided  the  land 
owners  between  North  street  and  Maxfield  street  would  give  the  laud 
over  which  the  street  shall  pass  and  permit  the  street  to  be  continued 
to  Maxfield  street  without  expense  to  the  town  so  far  as  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  land  are  concerned. 

Signed.    GEORGE  HOWLAND 

by  Matthew  Rowland. 

remarks  made  by  Sampson  Perkins  and  Tim"'y  G.  Coffin 

in  opposition  to  postponement : 

by  Rodney  French, 

Benjamin  Rodman,  and 

E.  M.  Robinson 

in  favor  of  postponement. 

Meeting  adjourned  to  afternoon. 

E.  M.  Robinson  continues  in  favor  of  posp^. 

Sampson  Perkins,  George  Randall  and  A.  Barker  in  opposition. 

David  R.  Greene  &  Rodney  French  in  support  of  the  motion. 


94  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Meeting  adjourned  to  Jan.  12  at  9  o'clock. 
,   Adjournment. 

Motion  for  indefinite  postponement  withdrawn. 

Renewed  by  David  R.  Greene. 

R.  French  resumed  in  favor  of  postponement,  followed  by  E.  M. 
Robinson  &  D.  K.  Greene  on  same  side.  &  by  Sampson  Perkins  &  Ab™ 
Barker  in  opposition. 

Question  decided  in  the  negative  Y.  1G9  N.  183. 

Sampson  Perkins  moves  that  Water  street  from  North  street  to  its 
northern  terminus  be  discontinued. 

Pending  the  motion  the  meeting  adjourned. 

xVdjourned  meeting  at  2i  o'clock  P.  M. 

The  moderator  then  stated  the  question  to  be  on  Mr.  Perkins  motion 
to  discontinue  that  part  of  Water  street  named  in  the  warrant,  and 
then  proceeded  further  to  state,  that  he  had  felt  it  his  duty,  with  the 
permission  of  the  meeting  to  say  a  few  words  in  relation  to  the  course 
which  the  debate  had  taken.  He  pointed  out  the  peculiar  character  of 
the  subjects  which  had  been  and  then  were  before  the  town,  and  ac- 
counted for  and  justified  the  extensive  range  which  had  been  taken 
and  allowed,  to  that  fact,  and  the  peculiar  manner  in  which  the  subject 
had  been  brought  forward  for  the  action  of  the  inhabitants.  He  then 
reminded  the  meeting,  that  nothing  could  justify  attacks  upon  private 
character  —  that  the  fair  name  and  fame  of  the  citizens  of  the  town 
were  of  more  value  than  money,  and,  in  conclusion  pointed  out  the 
true  course  of  discussion  upon  the  question  then  before  the  meeting. 

Motion  of  E.  M.  Robinson  to  discontinue  North  Water  street  with 
proviso. 

His  remarks. 

He  states  "  if  all  further  action  upon  the  subject  should  be  sus- 
pended, the  sum  of  tico  thousand  dollars  would  be  immediately  paid 
into  the  treasury  of  the  town." 

Whole  subject  indefinitely  postponed. 

Benj.  Rodman  hands  his  mother  Elizabeth  Rodman's  check  to  mod- 
erator for  82000. 

The  record  reads  —  "  Benjamin  Rodman,  Esq.  then  rose  and  having 
obtained  liberty  of  the  meeting,  stated  to  the  inhabitants  that  his  aged 
mother,  unwilling  that  any  imputation  of  unfairness  or  of  having  vio- 
lated any  engagement  should  rest  upon  the  character  of  her  son,  had 
put  into  his  hands,  without  the  knowledge  of  his  brother  Samuel  a 
check  for  two  thousand  dollars  to  be  placed  into  the  treasury  of  the 
town." 

Moderator  gives  check  to  treasurer. 

Motion  of  E.  M.  Robinson  of  thanks  to  the  moderator. 

The  record  is  "That  the  thanks  of  the  town  be  given  to  James 
Bunker  Congdon  Esquire,  for  the  impartialiti/,  fairness  and  ability. 


APPENDIX.  95 

with  which  he  has  discharged  the  duties  of  moderator  of  this  meeting," 
which  was  passed  unanimousl}'. 

A.  BarJcer  speaks  ou  question  of  vote  of  thanks  to  moderator. 

The  record  reads  —  "  he  disclaimed  any  feelings  of  ill-will  towards 
either  of  the  two  gentlemen  whose  names  had  been  so  closely  con- 
nected with  the  discussion,  and  hoped  that  nothing  he  had  said  would 
be  construed  into  any  reflection  upon  their  characters." 

Art.  4  of  the  warrant  for  the  meeting  considered,  [to  review  the 
whole  proceedings  in  relation  to  Water  street.] 

On  motion  of  R.  French,  indefinitely  postponed. 

Closing  part  of  the  record — "While  this  motion  was  pending, 
David  R.  Greene  stated  to  the  meeting  that  he  had  in  his  possession  a 
check  signed  by  Samuel  Rodman  for  Uro  thousand  dollars  which  had 
been  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  town ;  that  Mr.  Rod- 
man, although  he  continued  to  entertain  the  clearest  conviction  that 
no  more  than  Justice  had  been  done  him  by  the  act  of  the  town  in  re- 
leasing him  from  the  obligation  of  his  bond,  was  unwilling  that  any 
of  his  fellow-citizens  should  think  that  injustice  had  been  done  them 
by  that  act,  and  therefore  he  was  willing  to  put  back  into  the  treasury 
of  the  town  the  amount  which  had  been  paid  as  damage  to  George 
Howland." 

The  meeting  was  then  briefly  addressed  by  Sampson  Perkins,  Rodney 
French,  and  George  Randall,  who  severally  expressed  the  hope  that 
nothing  that  had  been  said  would  be  construed  into  disrespect  or  ill 
will  towards  the  two  persons  whose  names  had  been  so  much  used  in 
the  debate— and  also  by  Isaac  D.  Hall,  who  expressed  his  pleasure  at 
being  able  to  say  that  both  of  those  gentlemen  had  come  out  of  the 
trial  without  a  blemish  upon  their  characters. 

The  moderator  then  put  the  motion  for  adjournment  which  was 
carried  unanimously. 

Note. — This  was  a  most  extraordinary  meeting,  more  exciting  and 
interesting  than  any  town  meeting  ever  held  here.  It  was  for  this 
reason  that  the  proceedings  were  entered  so  fully. 


96  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

XX. 
NEW  BEDFORD   IN   1845. 

[The  following  sketch  of  New  Bedford  thirty-one  years  ago,  forms  a 
part  of  an  article  by  a  New  Bedford  contributor,  published  in  the  Na- 
tional Magazine  for  September,  1845.] 

It  is  difficult  for  any  one,  and  particularly  difficult  for  a  stranger,  to 
form  anything  lilie  a  true  estimate  of  the  magnitude  and  character  of 
the  business  operations  of  New  Bedford.  Lowell  and  Fall  River  place 
at  once  before  the  eyes  of  the  visitor  the  w^hole  extent  of  their  indus- 
trial instrumentalities  —  buildings,  stock,  machinery,  men,  women, 
and  children  all  appear  and  present  an  imposing  array  of  ingenious 
and  productive  movement ;  and  as  the  eye  takes  iu  the  long  ranges  of 
towering  factories,  and  the  ear  is  almost  stunned  with  the  loud  and 
never-ceasing  clamour  and  roar  of  the  wheels  and  the  furnaces,  and 
the  long  lines  of  busy  and  willing  hands,  all  seem  drawn  up  in  orderly 
array  to  their  respective  tasks,  the  mind  is  furnished  with  all  the  ele- 
ments for  the  formation  of  a  correct  judgment  as  to  the  magnitude  of 
the  enterprises  in  which  the  inhabitants  of  those  towns  are  engaged. 

Our  farmers,  too,  can  easily  put  into  the  possession  of  the  looker-on 
the  means  of  a  true  appreciation  of  their  agricultural  operations. 
Ayrshires  and  plough-shares,  crops,  cribs,  and  cattle,  porkers,  pens, 
and  poultry,  smoked  hams,  and  Durhams,  long-horned,  and  short- 
horned,  and  no-horned,  barns,  bins,  bulls,  and  baunocks,  fine-top 
and  red-top  grasses,  and  lasses,  bumpkins,  and  pumpkins,  all  are  to  be 
viewed  and  reviewed  at  once;  so  that  the  visitor  to  the  prize-farm 
is  not  left  a  moment  in  doubt  as  to  the  agencies  of  production,  the 
result  produced,  or  as  to  the  right  of  the  proprietor  and  manager 
to  the  silver  pitcher  at  the  next  state  agricultural  exhibition,  or  county 
cattle  show. 

But  New  Bedford  has  no  such  opportunities  for  display.  Its  inhab- 
itants have  no  means  for  concentrating  and  grouping  the  agencies  and 
results  of  their  enterprise  and  industry,  so  as  to  cause  them  to  make 
a  revelation,  full  and  complete,  of  their  claims  to  the  notice  and  ad- 
miration of  the  world.  Scattered  over  the  ocean,  each  of  the  floating 
magazines  of  skill,  perseverance,  and  labour,  puts  forth  during  the 
course  of  its  years-long  adventure  an  aggregate  of  well-directed  and 
vigorous  effort  that  cannot  be  paralleled  within  the  same  limited  ex- 
tent of  operations  in  any  other  branch  of  human  industry. 

But  who  cau  see,  who  can  appreciate  this?  Alone,  on  the  great 
deep,  afar  off,  beyond  the  ken  of  affectionate  regard  or  intelligent  cu- 
riosity, these  little  bands  of  hard-working,  much-enduring,  wealth- 
producing  men,  in  their  sea-encircled  domain,  pursue  their  toil  with 
an  activity  that  never  tires,  a  resoluteness  that  crushes  in  its  grasp 


APPENDIX.  97 

difficulty  aud  opposition,  as  the  mailed  hand  of  the  warrior  the  feeble 
opposition  of  childhood,  united  with  the  exercise  of  a  degree  of  pru- 
dence, decision,  and  skill,  which  many  a  cabinet  council  might  vainly 
emulate.  Year  after  year  they  pursue  their  adventurous  toil,  and,  re- 
turning, add  the  fruits  of  their  hardy,  intelligent  and  errant  industry 
to  the  world's  aggregate  wealth,  without  any  just  appreciation,  on  the 
part  of  the  landsman,  of  the  enormous  amount  of  vigorous  and  self- 
denying  effort  which  has  been  put  forth  in  its  accumulation. 

Since  there  cannot  be,  in  reality,  spread  out  before  the  eye  of  the 
observer  such  an  array  of  the  business  instrumentalities  of  the  town 
as  will  give  him  an  idea  of  their  magnitude,  let  us,  for  a  moment,  call 
in  the  aid  of  the  imagination,  and  sketch  a  picture  which  may  assist  in 
giving  something  like  an  adequate  impression  of  their  potential  char- 
acter. 

Take  the  wand  of  Prospero  — 

"  And  Ijy  your  art,  set  the  wild  waters  in  a  roar," 

That  from  their  various  and  remote  cruising  grounds,  the  New  Bedford 
whalemen,  "  ordered  by  the  safe  provisions  of  your  art,"  may  sudden- 
ly concentrate  in  the  offing,  and  in  a  single  line  enter  the  waters  of 
the  bay  near  which  the  town  is  situate.  Cast  your  eye  upon  that  long 
line  of  noble  ships.  The  leading  vessel  has  already  rounded  the  light, 
and  entered  the  harbour,  while  the  last  of  the  fleet  has  just  shot  into 
the  waters  of  the  bay.  Onward  they  come,  their  white  canvas  shin- 
ing like  a  milky-way  upon  the  waters.  And  now  the  pioneer  ship 
having  reached  the  northern  extremity  of  the  inner  harbour,  the  sig- 
nal is  given,  and  the  two  hundred  and  fifty  ships  which  compose  that 
imposing  and  majestic  array,  come  up  to  the  wind,  let  go  their  an- 
chors, and  are  soon  to  be  seen,  with  every  sail  furled,  quietly  reposing 
upon  the  waters  of  the  secluded  haven.  From  the  channel  of  the 
river,  afar  out,  four  or  five  miles  beyond  the  point  which  makes  the 
southern  extremity  of  the  town,  almost  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach, 
extends  the  line,  near!}'  ten  miles  long,  of  vessels  which  compose  the 
whaling  fleet  of  New  Bedford.  To  the  mind  capable  of  grasping  in 
all  its  vastness  and  comprehensiveness  the  far  off  scene,  of  which 
this  splendid  array  is  but  the  representative,  few  sights  upon  which 
the  eye  can  rest  would  be  more  significant  or  sublime.  Another  signal 
is  given  !  and  from  the  sides  of  the  ships  are  seen  quickly  to  descend 
more  than  one  thousand  of  those  buoyant  and  graceful  craft  whose 
speed,  when  urged  through  the  waters  by  the  sturdy  whalers,  outstrips 
that  of  the  fleet  monsters  who  vainly  strive  to  escape  from  the  dart  of 
the  hunters  of  the  ocean,  are  ranged  in  unbroken  line  in  front  of  the 
fleet.  Nearly  six  miles  in  length  is  this  whaling  flotilla,  as  each  boat 
with  head  to  the  north  is  made  ready  to  move  forward  in  the  pageant 

M 


98  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

which  is  to  exhibit  the  extent  and  the  potency  of  New  Bedford  enter- 
prise. 

In  that  interminable  line  of  boats,  floating  like  an  immense  sea- 
serpent  upon  the  still  waters  of  the  Accushnett,  are  seated  at  the  oar 
more  than  seven  thousand  men.  There,  ready  to  display  that  aptitude, 
fearlessness  and  vigour  which  is  called  forth  and  demanded  by  their 
occupation,  are  to  be  seen  the  operatives  of  the  New  Bedford  fisheries. 
More  than  seven  thousand  men,  not  women  and  children,  but  strong, 
hardy,  vigorous  men!  with  powers  of  endurance  and  capacities  for 
labor  not  exceeded  by  any  other  on  the  face  of  the  globe,  are  contained 
in  those  little  light  and  beautiful  "skimmers  of  the  seas,"  whose  mo- 
tions, like  the  prancing  of  the  generous  steed,  seem  to  chide  the  delay 
which  restrains  them  from  darting  forward  over  the  waters.  Four 
times  as  many  men  are  there,  as  composed  the  American  army  when 
at  Bunker  Hill  the  British  hirelings  were  taught  a  lesson  which  al- 
lowed them  no  longer  to  sneer  at  the  prowess  of  American  peasantry  ; 
and  more  than  composed  the  army,  which  on  that  memorable  day,  was 
sent  to  drive  those  peasantry  from  their  half  formed  intrenchments. 
More  individuals  are  there,  than  made  up  the  sum  total  of  the  inhabit- 
ants of  New  Bedford  twenty-five  years  ago;  -and  although  it  now 
numbers  not  far  from  sixteen  thousand  inhabitants,  it  would  take  the 
adult  male  population  of  two  such  towns  to  furnish  such  a  band  of 
ocean  operatives.     See,  the  line  has  started.     Onward  they  move, 

"  With  pennou  streaming  and  witb  lance  in  rest," 

The  oars  of  the  light-hearted  crews  keeping  time  to  the  music  of  their 
merry  songs.  Divided  into  as  many  detachments  as  there  are  ships  to 
which  they  are  respectively  attached,  they  range  along  before  us,  and 
with  flags  and  signals  displayed,  and  exhibiting  the  instruments  of 
their  craft,  the  weapons  of  their  hardy  warfare,  one  after  another,  in 
numbers  almost  numberless,  glide  away  from  our  point  of  observation, 
and  are  lost  in  the  distance. 

The  wand  of  the  enchanter  is  broken;  the  vision  has  fled!  We 
could  not  follow  that  imposing  array,  even  if  we  should  imagine  that 
from  the  top  of  one  of  the  whalers  we  heard  the  inspiring  cry,  "There 
she  blows,"  arousing  into  generous  rivalry  and  untiring  activity  all 
the  energies  of  the  sailor-boy's  breast.  The  pageant  has  vanished; 
and  having  dismissed  the  assembled  ships  to  their  respective  cruising 
grounds,  there  let  us  leave  them  with  the  expression  of  the  earnest 
hope 

"  That  bright  success  may  on  tlieir  valour  wait, 

And  rich  reward  attend  upon  their  toil." 

Having,  by  this  imaginary  concentration  of  its  forces,  attempted  to 
give  a  general  view  of  the  character  and  extent  of  the  industrial  op- 
erations of  New  Bedford,  we  shall  proceed  to  give  a  brief  description 


APPENDIX.  99 

of  the  town;  a  few  facts  in  relation  to  its  history  and  progress,  and 
some  statistics  exhibiting  the  results  of  the  home  business  in  which 
its  inhabitants  are  engaged. . 

The  town  is  pleasantly  and  eligibly  situated  on  the  west  side  of  a 
small  estuary,  called  the  Accushnett  River,  which  makes  up  in  a 
■  northerly  direction  into  the  land  near  the  western  extremity  of  Buz- 
zard's Bay,  on  the  south  shore  of  Massachusetts.  It  was  formerly  a 
part  of  the  town  of  Dartmouth,  which  town  once  included  the  towns 
of  Westport,  Dartmouth,  New  Bedford,  and  Fairhaven.  It  is  a  half 
shire  town  of  the  county  of  Bristol. 

It  was  incorporated  in  the  year  1787.  In  the  year  1812,  that  portion 
of  the  town  situated  on  the  east  side  of  the  Accushnett  was  set  off  as 
a  separate  township,  retaining  the  name  of  Fairhaven,  by  which  it 
always  has  been  distinguished  from  the  opposite  settlement  of  Bedford. 

Nothing  can  exceed  the  beauty  of  the  situation  of  New  Bedford.  It 
is  built  upon  ground  which  rises  rapidly  from  the  river,  and  the  view 
from  the  opposite  town  of  Fairhaven,  and  from  the  harbour,  as  it  is 
approached  from  the  south,  is  not  exceeded  by  any  town  in  the  Union. 
It  is  laid  out  with  much  regularity,  the  streets  nearly  all  forty  feet 
wide,  crossing  each  other  at  right  angles.  Most  of  the  sidewalks  are 
flagged  and  many  of  the  streets  are  paved.  The  buildings  are  mostly 
of  wood,  although  several  of  the  finest  houses  and  stores  are  built  of 
a  more  durable  and  safe  material. 

Few  strangers  w^ho  visit  New  Bedford  fail  to  be  struck  with  the  ex- 
ceeding neatness  and  beauty  of  the  dwellings  in  the  more  elevated 
portions  of  the  town.  Much  of  this  attractiveness  is  owing  to  the 
circumstance,  that  they  are  nearly  all  surrounded  by  extensive  and 
well  cultivated  gardens,  and  that  the  streets  on  which  they  are  built 
are  bordered  with  a  beautiful  growth  and  great  variety  of  ornamental 
trees.  County  street,  which  runs  the  whole  extent  of  the  thickly  set- 
tled part  of  the  town,  about  two  miles,  upon  the  summit  of  the  rising 
ground  on  which  it  is  built,  is  allowed  to  be  almost  without  a  rival  in 
this  country  for  its  various  and  atti'active  beauties. 

Visitors  are  not  only  strongly  impressed  with  the  beauty  of  its  sit- 
uation, and  the  tastefulness  and  richness  of  many  of  its  public  build- 
ings and  private  residences,  but  by  the  aspect  of  freshness  which  it 
everywhere  presents.  The  large  number  of  newly-erected  buildings, 
particularly  dwelling-houses,  is  an  evidence  of  rapid  growth,  and  of 
the  accumulation  of  means  by  which  that  growth  is  promoted  and  sus- 
tained; and  that  nearly  all  these  recent  erections,  are  the  neat,  but 
humble  dwellings  of  the  trader,  the  mechanic,  and  the  labourer,  is  not 
among  the  least  gratifying  evidences  of  real  and  permanent  increase 
and  prosperity.  The  desire  for  a  home  of  one's  own,  possesses  a 
charm ;  and  the  knowledge  that  the  stranger  landlord  cannot  inter- 
meddle with  our  joys,  has,  to  an  extent  i-arely  known,  among  a  thickly 


100  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

settled  population,  an  abiding  and  active  influence  upon  the  people  of 
New  Bedford.  From  this  cause  is  it,  that  one  of  the  first  and  most 
interesting  sights  which  meets  the  eye  of  the  visitor,  is  the  great 
number  of  neat,  modest,  and  convenient  dwellings  which  are  spread- 
ing themselves  over  the  beautiful  hill  upon  which  the  town  is  situate. 

In  this  disposition,  so  pleasing  to  contemplate,  which  has  been  made 
of  the  means  which  our  honest  industry  and  a  laudable  enterprise 
have  placed  at  our  disposal,  I  believe  no  one  will  undertake  to  say 
that  a  fair  proportion  has  not  been  devoted  to  the  gratification  of  a 
taste  for  the  beautiful  in  village  architecture  and  its  accessories,  the 
comfortable  walk,  the  over-shadowing  tree,  the  green  inclosnre,  and 
the  blooming  fiower  garden.  We  cannot  be  said  to  be  deficient  in  that 
love  of  the  beautiful  in  nature,  and  art,  so  strikingly  apparent  in  most 
of  our  New  England  towns,  and  which  renders  them  the  admiration  of 
the  traveller  from  other  lands.  The  neat  and  comfortable  dwellings 
of  our  mechanics,  the  extensive  homes  of  some  of  our  more  wealthy 
inhabitants,  the  snug  inclosure  of  the  poor  man,  and  the  more  en- 
larged and  highly  ornamental  grounds  of  his  richer  neighbour,  all 
manifest  the  presence  of  a  nobler  feeling  than  that  which  prompts  to 
exertion  from  the  mere  love  of  gain. 

Our  public  edifices  are  creditable  in  style  and  liberality.  Of  our 
churches,  it  may,  with  much  propriety,  be  remarked  that  we  may  not 
fear  to  have  them  examined,  or  numbered.  In  a  kind  of  architecture, 
in  relation  to  which  it  is  said,  that  the  New  Englanders  are  transgress- 
ors to  a  proverb,  we  have  been  so  far  successful,  that  all  our  places 
of  public  worship  are  respectable;  and  to  one  of  them,  has  been  ac- 
corded the  high  praise  of  standing  without  a  rival  in  this  part  of  the 
country.  Our  Town  Hall  has  called  forth  the  admiration  of  visitors 
of  taste,  and  the  buildings  devoted  to  the  schools,  both  in  number  and 
appearance,  give  an  unequivocal  indication  that  upon  the  important 
subject  of  education  the  people  of  New  Bedford  have  been  true  to  the 
principles  of  their  Pilgrim  ancestry. 

While  the  citizens  of  New  Bedford  have  exhibited  their  taste,  and 
of  some,  perhaps,  it  may  be  said,  their  opulence,  in  their  private  dwell- 
ings, they  have  not  failed  to  devote  a  proper  regard  to  the  public  con- 
venience, comfort,  and  safety,  and  the  true  prosperity  and  happiness 
of  the  inhabitants.  It  would  be  diflicult  to  find  a  community  of  the 
same  population,  where  so  liberal  an  outlay  in  every  branch  of  public 
expenditure  has  uniformly  been  made.  No  department  has  been  neg- 
lected; and  when  the  eflbrt  was  unsuccessfully  made  to  obtain  a  vote 
for  a  city  charter,  it  was  urged  as  a  reason  against  the  change,  that  no 
public  concernment  had  been  neglected,  and  consequently  no  change 
was  called  for. 

The  public  buildings,  the  arrangements  for  the  support  and  comfort 
of  the  poor  and  the  sick,  the  means  of  public  education,  the  condition 


APPENDIX.  101 

of  the  streets  and  highways,  and  the  state  of  the  fire  department, 
manifest  unequivocal  evidence  of  a  liberal  expenditure,  and  a  careful 
and  discreet  supervision. 

The  population  of  the  town  is  estimated  at  about  sixteen  thousand. 
It  has  nearly  doubled  within  the  last  ten  years,  every  year  having 
shown  an  increase.  During  this  period,  including  the  appropriations 
of  the  present  year,  there  has  been  expended  for  public  purposes  about 
five  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  dollars,  not  including  above  sixty 
thousand  dollars  which  has  been  assessed  as  county  taxes  —  an  aver- 
age of  flfty-two  thousand  dollars  a  year,  with  an  average  of  twelve 
thousand  inhabitants.  Few  communities  in  this  country  can  exhibit  a 
parallel  to  this.  A  view  of  some  of  the  items  of  this  expenditure  may 
be  interesting.     There  have  been  expended  upon  the 

Public  schools,  $lG-2,000 

Public  streets  and  highways,  103,000 

Fire  department,  37,000 

Paupers,  2;},000 

Public  buildings,  about  100,000 

A  comparison  of  the  sum  which  has  been  expended  upon  the  public 
schools,  with  that  which  during  the  same  period  of  time  it  has  cost  to 
support  the  paupers,  gives  a  favourable  aspect  to  this  statistical  evi- 
dence of  the  condition  and  character  of  the  inhabitants.  It  is  proper, 
however,  to  observe,  that  this  is  about  one  half  the  whole  amount 
which  it  has  cost  to  maintain  the  paupers  within  the  limits  of  the 
town.  All  such  as  have  no  residence  in  the  state  are  suppoi'ted,  in 
part,  by  the  state  government,  and  for  the  support  of  the  paupers  from 
other  towns,  payment  is  made  by  the  towns  to  which  they  respectively 
belong. 

The  following  are  the  appropriations  made  at  the  Annual  Town 
Meeting,  in  April  last : 

For  paupers,  f  2,800 
For  streets,  repaying,  paving,  curbing,  and  flagging,  13,400 
For  lighting  the  streets,  2,200 

For  public  schools,  21  ,.500 
For  night-watcli,  3,000 

For  payments  on  debt,  5,2.'J5.43 

For  fire  department,  7,000 

For  new  alms-house,  12,000 
For  incidental  and  miscellaneous,  4,S00 

Making  an  aggregate  of  f  70,735.43 

To  meet  this  expenditure,  and  to  pay  the  state  tax  of  §1,510.50,  and 
the  county  tax  of  §G, 674.90,  there  has  been  assessed  a  tax  of  seventy- 
five  thousand  dollars,  just  the  amotint  of  the  state  tax  voted  by  the  last 
General  Court. 


102  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 


Real  estate,  f6,132,300 

Personal  estate,  O.KJT.OOO 


The  property  of  the  town  has  been  valued  by  the  assessors,  at  Jlo,769,:i00 

The  numl>er  of  taxables,  is  4,141 

The  number  of  polls,  is  (males  twenty  years  of  age  and  upwards)     3,784 
The  number  of  persons  who  pay  a  poll  tax  only,  is  2,160 

One  hundred  and  seventy-five  of  the  taxables  are  people  of  colour. 
Several  of  thera  are  large  tax-payers.  There  are  above  one  thousand 
coloured  persons  residing  in  the  town. 

The  valuation  in  the  year  1836,  was  $11,360,350 

For  1844,  it  was  14,767,000 

After  making  this  financial  exhibit,  it  will  not  be  thought  necessary 
to  go  much  into  detail  as  to  the  condition  of  the  several  departments. 
Liberality  of  expenditure  and  a  vigilant  supervision  arc  evident  in 
every  branch  of  the  public  aflairs  of  New  Bedford.  The  public  schools 
are,  as  we  have  seen,  liberally  provided  for;  their  condition  furnishes 
unequivocal  evidence  that  the  munificent  appropriations  of  the  inhab- 
itants are,  and  have  been,  expended  under  the  direction  of  intelligent 
and  devoted  committee  men. 

From  the  last  report  of  the  School  Committee,  we  see  that  twenty- 
eight  public  schools  are  sustained  by  the  town,  and  that  forty-seven 
teachers  are  constantly  employed.  Of  this  large  number  of  teachers 
only  four  are  males. 

A  new  brick  school-house,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  public  high- 
school,  and  one  or  more  schools  of  a  lower  grade,  has  just  been  com- 
pleted. It  has  been  built  at  an  expense  of  about  twelve  thousand  dol- 
lars, and  is  a  beautiful  and  convenient  structure.  The  number  of 
public  school-houses  is  seventeen. 

Perhaps,  no  better  evidence  of  the  efi'ective  character  of  the  fire  de- 
partment can  be  given  than  the  fact,  that  although  nearly  all  the  build- 
ings are  of  wood,  the  town  has  never  been  visited  by  an  extensive 
conflagration.  This  depai-tmeut  consists  of  a  board  of  firewardens, 
twenty  in  number,  from  which  three  engineers  are  selected,  a  hook 
and  ladder  company,  a  company  for  the  protection  of  property,  and 
ten  engine  companies.  For  every  engine,  ten  in  number,  a  convenient 
house  has  been  provided.  The  whole  number  of  men  belonging  to  the 
department  is  five  hundred  and  twenty-five.  Ten  dollars  a  year  is 
allowed  to  the  firemen. 

The  selectmen,  in  their  last  annual  report,  hold  the  following  lan- 
guage in  relation  to  the  department : 

"  The  engines  and  apparatus  attached  to  them,  and  all  the  other  fire 
apparatus  of  the  town,  are  in  good  order,  as  are  the  buildings  appro- 
priated to  their  use,  and  the  reservoirs,  distributed  over  every  part  of 
the  village,  can,  it  is  believed,  aflbrd  an  ample  supply  of  water  for  any 


ArPENDIX.      ,  103 

emergency.  These  gratifying  facts,  connected  with  the  still  more  im- 
portant one,  that  we  have  a  body  of  firemen  who  have  not  been,  and 
cannot  be,  surpassed  for  all  those  qualities  which  give  vigour  and 
efficiency  to  the  operations  of  a  fire  department,  and  whicli  give  calm- 
ness and  assurance  to  the  inhabitants  when  alarmed  by  the  cry  of  fire, 
are  sources  of  well-founded  gratulation,  and  malie  valid  the  claim  of 
our  department  to  an  elevated  position  among  similar  establishments 
of  our  country,  and  in  the  estimation  of  those  for  whose  safety  and 
protection  it  has  been  founded  and  sustained." 

For  the  economical  and  comfortable  support  of  the  poor,  no  place 
has  ever  been  found,  so  perfect  as  that  which  places  them,  under 
proper  supervision,  upon  a  farm.  This  mode  was  adopted  many  years 
ago  by  New  Bedford.  A  farm  of  about  a  hundred  acres  was  pur- 
chased, the  cost  of  which,  with  the  buildings,  which  were  then  erected, 
was  about  seven  thousand  dollars.  We  have  seen  the  annual  outlay. 
Tlie  farm  has  been  increasing  in  value,  and  is  now  computed  to  be 
worth  ten  thousand  dollars.  A  new  alms-house  is  now  in  process  of 
erection,  which  will  cost  about  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  A  pleasanter 
and  more  commanding  situation  than  that  occupied  by  the  present 
building,  has  been  selected,  and  it  will,  when  completed,  not  only  be  a 
safe  and  comfortable  dwelling  for  the  poor,  but  an  ornament  to  the 
town,  by  whose  enlightened  liberality  it  will  have  been  erected. 

In  their  care  for  the  living,  the  inhabitants  have  not  been  unmindful 
of  what  is  due  to  the  dead.  A  public  place  of  burial,  called  Oak  Grove 
Cemetery,  has  been  provided,  contaiuing  eight  acres  of  ground.  A 
part  of  the  cemetery  is  laid  out  in  lots,  the  exclusive  occupancy  of 
which  may  be  obtained  from  the  authorities  for  a  small  consideration. 
The  remainder  is  devoted  to  indiscriminate  burial.  It  is  a  beautiful 
spot.  Nature  has  been  lavish  of  her  gifts,  and  good  taste  marks  the 
arrangements  which  have  been  made  by  the  officers  of  the  town  to 
•  adapt  the  grounds  to  its  sacred  purpose.  "The  funds  which  have 
been  derived  from  the  lots  taken  by  individuals,"  say  the  selectmen  in 
the  report  before  quoted,  "have  enabled  the  authorities  to  add  to  the 
convenience  and  beauty  of  the  spot  which  has  been  selected  as  a  place 
for  the  public  interment  of  the  dead,  and  every  citizen,  whatever  may 
be  his  designs  or  wishes,  with  regard  to\himself  or  his  friends,  cannot 
but  be  gratified  that  the  Common  Burying  Ground  has,  by  the  plan 
which  has  been  adopted,  been  saved  from  that  aspect  of  loathsomeness 
and  abandonment,  too  often  exiiibited  in  such  locations." 

The  Rural  Cemetery,  a  private  ground,  is  well  laid  out ;  and  although 
not  possessing  the  natural  advantages  of  the  other,  the  chaste  and 
beautiful  monuments,  the  neat  inclosures,  and  the  green  shrubbery, 
give  it  a  pleasing  appearance,  and  speak  of  the  possession,  on  the  part 
of  those  who  have  availed  of  it  as  a  place  of  sepulture,  of  those  re- 
fined and  exalted  sentiments,  which  lead  to  the  selection  and  embel- 


104  CENTENNIAL,   CELEBRATION. 

lisbments  of  nature's  loveliest  spots,  as  a  final  resting-place  for  the 
departed. 

In  this  town  the  curbing  and  flagging  the  side-walks,  as  well  as  all 
the  other  operations  upon  the  streets,  are  performed  at  the  public  ex- 
pense. To  this  it  is  owing  that  the  sum  expended  upon  the  highways 
has  been  so  large.  Between  fifty  and  sixty  thousand  dollars  have  been 
expended  upon  the  side-walks  alone.  Nearly  every  one  of  the  streets 
will,  at  the  close  of  the  present  year,  have  one  of  its  side-walks  flagged. 
Some  of  the  more  public  thoroughfares  are  paved  and  have  both  the 
side-walks  flagged. 

The  Town  Hall  is  a  magnificent  structure.  It  is  built  of  granite,  and 
is  one  hundred  feet  long  and  sixty-one  feet  wide,  and  three  stories  in 
height.  The  lower  story,  or  basement,  is  occupied  as  a  public  market. 
This  room  is  spacious  and  convenient,  and  its  stalls  in  good  order,  and 
all  furnished  with  marble  benches  for  the  meats;  and  for  the  most 
part  supplied  with  an  abundance  of  those  articles  usually  found  in  the 
public  market. 

The  second  story  is  a  hall  for  public  meetings,  eighty  by  sixty  feet. 

In  the  third  story  are  rooms  for  the  accommodation  of  the  ofiicers  of 
the  town.  Connected  with  the  office  of  the  Town  Clerk,  is  a  large 
fire-proof  apartment,  in  which  the  records  and  papers  of  the  town  are 
deposited. 

In  the  hall  is  suspended  a  full  length  portrait  of  Washington,  painted 
by  William  A.  Wall,  a  native  artist,  from  Stuart's  celebrated  picture, 
and  presented  to  the  town  by  a  small  number  of  the  citizens.  It  has 
been  pronounced,  by  competent  judges,  to  be  well  and  faithfully  exe- 
cuted; and  while  it  reflects  credit  upon  the  artist,  and  upon  the  public 
spirit  of  the  individuals  who  caused  it  to  be  executed,  it  is  highly 
ornamental  to  the  beautiful  hall. 

The  edifice,  which  with  the  land  beneath  and  around  it,  cost  the 
town  the  sum  of  sixty  thousand  dollars,  has  been  called  by  many,  the  . 
handsomest  building  in  New  England  devoted  to  civic  purposes. 

Having  glanced  at  the  principal  subjects  connected  with  the  town  of 
a  public  or  municipal  character,  let  us  for  a  moment  look  at  what  there 
is  worthy  of  attention  in  the  pursuits  of  its  inhabitants,  and  the  re- 
sults which  have  attended  the  exertions  of  individuals  and  corporate 
bodies. 

We  have  already  spoken  of  that  pursuit  which  forms  the  principal 
business  of  the  town.  A  few  details  are  wanting  to  give  a  complete 
idea  of  its  extent,  character,  and  results. 

The  number  of  vessels  belonging  to  the  town,  engaged  in  the  whal- 
ing business,  is  tioo  hundred  and  fifty-one.  They  are  all  ships  but  five. 
Collectively  they  measure  eirjhty-tico  thousand  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
tico  tons. 

These  ships  are  navigated  and  their  operations  carried  on  by  crews 


APPENDIX.  105 

uarabering,  on  an  average,  not  far  from  thirty  men  each.  This  makes 
the  number  on  board  the  fleet  above  seven  thousand,  as  has  already 
been  stated. 

These  vessels,  averaging  them,  have  cost  the  owners  more  than 
thirty  thousand  dollars  each.  This  of  course  includes  the  cost  of  the 
outfit.  At  this  low  estimate,  then,  the  value  of  the  New  Bedford 
whaling  fleet  is  seven  million  Jive  hundred  and  thirty  thousand  dollars. 

Add  to  this  the  value  of  the  wharves,  and  oil,  and  candle  fiictories, 
and  the  coopering,  blacksmithing,  boat  building,  warehouses,  and 
other  mechanical  establishments  directly  connected  with,  and  depend- 
ent upon,  the  whaling  operations,  and  we  shall  flnd  that  the  amount  of 
capital  engaged  in  the  business  of  catching  oil  from  this  town  alone, 
will  vary  but  little  from  nine  millions  of  dollars. 

During  the  year  1844,  there  was  brought  into  the  port  by  the  New 
Bedford  fleet  — 

Sperm  oil,  54,509 

Whale  oil,  102,992 


Making  an  aggi-egate  of  157,501  barrels, 

Or  four  million  nine  hundred  and  sixty-one  thousand  two  hundred  and 
eighty-one  and  a  half  gallons.  During  the  same  time,  nine  hundred 
and  seventy-eight  thousand  five  hundred  and  ninety-two  pounds  of 
whalebone  were  imported.  The  value  of  the  importation  is  ascer- 
tained as  follows : 

l,717,a33.J  galls,  sperm  oil,  at  90  cents,  $1  ,i)45,S.30.15 

3,244,248       "      whale  oil,  "  75  cents,  1,175,486.80 

978,592  pounds  whalebone,"  35  cents,  -  342,507.30 

Total  value  of  the  product  of  the  fishing  for  the  year  1844,        $3,003,324.15 

More  than  three  millions  of  dollars.  About  one  third  of  this  amount 
is  paid  to  the  crews  of  the  ships. 

Up  to  the  2oth  day  of  July,  of  the  present  year,  the  importations 
have  been 

Sperm  oil,  _  .3.i,4fil 

Whale  oil,  68,101 


103,562  barrels. 

And  about  seven  hundred  thousand  pounds  of  whalebone.  At  the 
same  prices  the  value  of  the  receipts  this  year  up  to  the  above  named 
date  is  $2,001,235.27i,  more  than  two  millions  of  dollars. 

In  the  year  1843  the  results  of  the  fishery  were  as  follows : 

Whole  number  of  barrels  of  oil, 

Sperm  oil,  61,066 

Whale  oil,  40,922 


101,988  baiTcls, 


106  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

This  importation,  with  the  Avhalebone  which  was  brought  in  the 
same  year,  about  360,000  pounds,  was  estimated  to  have  been  worth 
two  million  three  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

On  the  first  day  of  January,  1844,  the  number  of  ships  in  the  fishery 
was  two  hundred  and  nineteen,  measuring  69,703  tons.  The  number  is 
now  two  hundred  and  fifty-one,  measuring  82,162  tons,  showing  an 
increase  in  about  a  year  and  a  half  of  thirty-two  ships,  and  in  the  ton- 
nage 12,459  tons;  about  15  per  cent,  in  the  number  of  vessels  and  18 
per  cent,  in  the  amount  of  tonnage. 

The  district  of  New  Bedford  includes  the  towns  of  Dartmouth,  New 
Bedford,  Fairhaven,  and  Rochester. 

There  are  belonging  to  the  district,  one  hundred  and  seventeen 
thousand  five  hundi-ed  and  sixty-nine  tons  of  shipping. 

This  shows  it  to  rank  as  the  fourth  tonnage  district  in  the  United 
States :  New  York,  Boston,  and  New  Orleans  exceeding  it.  New 
Bedford  alone  has  more  than  double  the  amount  of  registered  tonnage 
owned  in  Philadelphia. 

In  the  district  the  registered  tonnage  is  108,640  tons. 

Enrolled  tonnage  is  8,929  tons. 

117,569  tons. 

In  the  year  1835,  August  1st,  the  tonnage  of  the  district  was  but 
73,982  tons. 

On  the  first  day  of  January,  of  the  present  year,  there  were  em- 
ployed in  the  whale  fishery,  from  the  United  States,  643  ships,  35  brigs, 
and  17  schooners  and  sloops.  The  tonnage  was  218,655  tons.  Since 
that  time  there  has  been  a  considerable  increase.  The  number  of  ves- 
sels now  engaged  in  the  business  is  about  720. 

The  manufacture  of  the  products  of  the  fishery  forms  one  important 
part  of  the  business  of  the  town.  Much  of  the  sperm  oil  imported  is 
prepared  for  use  by  the  difierent  processes  by  which  spring,  summer, 
fall,  and  winter  oil,  (as  the  difi'erent  kinds  are  called,  according  to  the 
season  when  the  oil  is  pressed,)  are  produced,  before  it  finds  its  way 
to  the  various  markets  of  the  country :  and  from  the  spermaceti,  an 
article  exclusively  the  product  of  the  spermaceti  whale,  is  manufac- 
tured the  spermaceti  candle,  so  universally  admired  and  esteemed  for 
its  pleasant  light.  There  are  about  twenty  oil  and  candle  maufac- 
'tories  in  the  town,  most  of  which  are  in  operation.  A  large  amount 
of  capital  is  invested  in  this  branch  of  business,  and  several  hundred 
persons  find  regular  and  healthful  employment  in  connexion  with  it. 
A  large  portion  of  the  right  whale,  or,  as  it  is  generally  called,  whale 
or  black  oil,  is  exported  to  the  north  of  Europe.  The  manufacture 
for  the  purification  of  this  kind  of  oil  is  carried  on  to  some  extent  in 
the  town,  and  more  extensively  in  the  country,  the  high  price  of  sperm 


APPENDIX.  107 

oil  causing  it  to  be  much  used  in  lamps  as  a  substitute  for  the  purer 
and  dearer  article. 

Much  of  the  sperm  oil  is  consumed  in  the  various  manufactories  of 
this  country  and  England.  It  is  thought,  by  some,  that  the  time  is 
not  far  distant  when  the  whole  importation  of  this  article  will  be  re- 
quired for  the  purposes  of  oiling  machinery.  Nothing  has  yet  been 
found  which  can  be  used  as  a  substitute  for  pure  sperm  oil  upon  delicate 
machinery. 

It  will  be  readily  seen  that  the  prosecution  of  the  business  in  which 
New  Bedford  is  engaged,  must  necessarily  give  employment  to  a  large 
amount  of  labour  not  immediately  connected  with  the  operations  of 
pi'ocuring  the  oil. 

Many  of  the  ships  belonging  to  the  town  have  been  built  there,  and 
no  better  ships  float  the  ocean  than  those  which  have  been  launched 
from  the  ship  yards  of  New  Bedford  and  the  neighbouring  town  of 
Fairhaven.  The  business  of  repairing  the  ships  gives  employment  to 
a  large  number  of  shipwrights,  and  before  anything  is  done  towards 
placing  on  board  the  whaler  the  outfit  for  her  voyage,  calkers,  riggers, 
sail-makers  and  painters  find  a  demand  for  the  exercise  of  their  re- 
spective crafts. 

But  our  space  will  not  allow  us  to  enter  into  the  details  of  the  op- 
eration of  fitting  out  a  whale  ship.  The  amount  of  from  two  to  five 
thousand  barrels  or  casks  are  required  for  each  vessel,  and  while 
Michigan  supplies  the  staves,  and  Fall  lliver,  Wareham,  and  Taunton 
furnish  the  hoops.  New  Bedford  mechanics  supply  the  labour  which 
puts  the  raw  material  into  a  shape  to  fit  it  for  the  use  of  the  whaler. 
The  thousand  whale  boats  which  are  now  hanging  upon  the  cranes  of 
the  gallant  ships,  or  which  are  driven  forward  by  their  hardy  crews, 
in  pursuit  of  the  ocean  monsters,  are  all  the  product  of  the  New  Bed- 
ford workshop. 

The  irons  which  fasten  the  whaler  to  his  victim,  and  the  lance  which 
gives  the  death  blow  and  ends  the  contest,  are  wrought  by  the  skill 
and  industry  of  New  Bedford  artisans. 

Largely  have  the  mechanics  and  labourers  of  this  thriving  town 
shared  in  the  benefits  which  have  crowned  the  whaling  entferprlses  of 
the  inhabitants.  We  may  be  mistaken,  but  from  the  observations  and 
inquiries  which  we  have  been  enabled  to  make,  we  have  arrived  at  the 
conclusion  that  there  is  not  a  town  in  New  England  where  so  large  ^ 
proportion  of  the  propei'ty  is  held  by  what  are  generally  termed  the 
working  men,  the  mechanics  and  labourers  of  the  place.  Take  the 
men  on  board  the  ships,  who  we  have  seen  number  over  seven  thou- 
sand, and  add  to  them  the  men,  women,  and  children  who,  upon  the 
shore,  are  engaged  in  some  one  of  the  numerous  vocations  directly 
connected  with  the  whaleman's  operations,  and  it  will  be  found,  that 
in  the  New  Bedford  whaling  business  and  its  various  branches,  daily 


108  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

employment  is  given  to  more  tlian  ten  thoasand  persons.  Add  to 
these  the  great  numbers  who,  iu  various  parts  of  the  world,  are  fur- 
nishing the  materials  which  are  demanded,  and  the  supplies  which  are 
consumed,  in  the  prosecution  of  the  fisheries,  and  those  who  find  em- 
ployment in  the  disposition  which  is  made  of  the  profits  of  the  busi- 
ness, and  the  aggregate  would  present  astonishing  and  gratifying 
evidence  of  its  magnitude  and  importance. 

In  connexion  with  this  branch  of  our  subject  we  would  notice  the 
cordage  manufactory  recently  put  into  operation.  The  moving  force 
is  two  steam  engines  of  twenty  horse  power  each.  About  seventy-five 
persons  are  employed,  half  of  whom  are  females.  Not  far  from  four 
hundred  tons  of  cordage  are  annually  manufactured. 

Our  remarks  in  relation  to  the  business  of  the  place,  have  thus  far 
been  confined  to  those  pursuits  directly  appertaining  to  that  branch  of 
industry  in  which  the  inhabitants  are  so  generally  and  so  deeply  en- 
gaged. To  give  a  faithful  picture  of  the  industrial  aspects  of  the 
town,  we  may  add  a  word  in  relation  to  other  business  operations. 

Steam,  as  a  moving  power,  is  fast  increasing  here.  Two  planing 
machines,  a  manufactory  of  looking-glasses  and  picture  frames,  two 
mills  for  grinding  grain,  several  blacksmithing  and  carpentering  estab- 
lishments, and  a  manufactory  of  Prussian  blue,  from  which  a  beautiful 
article  is  turned  out,  are  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  in  operation 
through  the  instrumentality  of  the  steam  engine.  An  extensive  es- 
tablishment for  the  manufacture  of  linseed  oil,  by  steam,  will  go  iuto 
operation  in  a  few  weeks.  The  business  of  making  paper  hangings  is 
carried  on.  Carriage  making,  to  an  annual  amount  of  fifty  thousand 
dollars,  employs  quite  a  number  of  mechanics.  The  products  of  their 
industry  are  all  consumed  iu  the  town.  The  large  number  of  livery 
stables,  and  the  somewhat  unusual  number  of  individuals  who  keep 
their  own  carriages,  make  this  branch  of  business  extensive  and 
profitable. 

The  New  Bedford  Marine  Railway  and  Wharf  Company  have  a  cap- 
ital of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  and  on  a  small  island  owned  by  them, 
separated  from  the  busiest  part  of  the  town  by  a  narrow  channel,  and 
connected  with  it  by  a  portion  of  the  bridge,  one  mile  in  length,  which 
unites  New  Bedford  with  the  opposite  town  of  Fairhaven,  they  have, 
beside  wharves,  warehouses,  dwelling-houses,  and  mechanics'  shops, 
a  marine  railway,  which  affords  great  facilities  for  cleaning  and  repair- 
ing the  smaller  class  of  vessels.  The  two  individuals  who  compose 
that  company  are  extensively  engaged  in  dredging  operations  iu  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  country,  as  well  as  in  their  own  town.  They  have 
machines  in  operation,  several  of  them  moved  by  steam  power,  in 
Canada,  and  in  four  different  States  of  the  Union. 
The  New  Bedford  Institution  for  Savings  holds  ftinds  to  the  amount 


APPENDIX.  109 

of  four  huudrcd  aud  twelve  thousand  dollars.    The  number  of  depos- 
itors is  nineteen  hundred  and  forty. 

There  are  four  banks,  the  united  capitals  of  which  amount  to  thir- 
teen hundred  thousand  dollars.  These  corporations  severally  own  the 
buildings  in  which  they  are  kept.  That  occupied  by  the  Mercha'nts' 
and  Mechanics'  Banks,  is  a  fine  structure  of  brick,  with  a  front  of 
hewn  granite  from  the  Fall  River  quarry.  The  pillars  and  other  orna- 
mental work  of  the  Town  Hall  are  of  the  same  material.  This  granite 
has  been  thought,  by  some,  to  be  superior  to  that  procured  at  Quincy. 

There  are  now  but  two  insurance  offices  in  the  town,  both  con- 
ducted on  the  mutual  principle.  Four  stock  offices  are  now  winding 
up  their  afl'airs.  One  of  these,  the  Merchants',  presents  an  example 
of  successful  operation  seldom  exhibited.  In  September  next,  it  will 
be  twenty  years  since  it  commenced  business.  Funds  for  a  dividend 
at  that  time  are  now  on  hand.  The  company  will  then  have  paid  out 
to  its  stockholders,  upon  a  capital  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars, 
three  hundred  and  eighty  thousand  dollars,  or  nineteen  per  cent,  per 
annum,  and  have  its  whole  capital  and  a  small  surplus  remaining.  It 
now  has  but  few  risks  out,  all  of  which  are  re-insured. 

The  New  Bedford  and  Taunton  Railroad  is.  twenty  miles  long.  It 
connects  the  two  places  whose  names  the  corporation  bears,  and  was 
constructed  at  an  expense  of  four  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Nearly 
all  the  stock  is  owned  in  New  Bedford,  the  managers  are  residents  in 
that  town,  and  so  successful  has  it  been  in  its  operations  that  the  stock 
is  now  held  at  twenty-five  per  cent,  advance. 

A  glance  at  the  benevolent,  religious,  and  educational  aspects  of  the 
place  will  finish  our  sketch  of  this  village  of  the  whalers. 

Among  the  benevolent  undertakings  of  the  inhabitants,  the  first  in 
importance  is  that  which  is  sustained  by  the  New  Bedford  Port  Soci- 
ety. They  have  built  a  church,  a  small,  but  neat,  wooden  edifice, 
where  services  are  every  Sunday  performed  by  a  minister,  who,  in 
addition  to  his  labours  on  that  day,  is  expected  to  devote  nearly  all 
his  time  to  the  promotion  of  the  temporal  and  spiritual  welfare  of  the 
sailor.  An  evening  meeting  is  held  once  a  week.  A  registry  office  is 
connected  with  the  ♦'bethel,"  and  its  pages  are  often  the  means  of 
giving,  to  distant  friends  aud  relatives,  information  of  those  who 
wander  from  their  homes  and  seek  employment  upon  the  decks  of  the 
whale-ship.  This  society  has  a  lady's  branch,  which  has  established  a 
clothing  store,  where  the  sailor  is  sure  to  find  well  made  articles  of 
apparel,  and  which  have  the  additional  recommendation  of  being,  for 
the  most  part,  the  work  of  the  wives,  widows,  and  daughters  of  the 
seaman. 

For  an  Orphan's  Home,  a  convenient  dwelling  has  been  purchased, 
where  the  children  reside  under  the  care  of  a  matron  and  school-mis- 
tress.   This  establishment,  under  the  supervision  and  control  of  the 


110  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

society  of  females,  by  whose  energy  and  benevolence  it  has  been  es- 
tablished and  sustained,  bids  fair  to  be  a  highly  useful  institution. 

The  Bible  Society  is  a  branch  of  the  American  Institution.  Its  op- 
erations have  been,  for  the  most  part,  confined  to  the  supply  of  the 
destitute  sailors,  and  of  such  as  might  be  found  without  the  scriptures 
within  the  limits  of  the  town.  No  ship  leaves  the  harbour  of  New 
Bedfoi-d  without  a  supply  of  Bibles  for  all  on  board. 

The  Benevolent  Society,  and  the  Dorcas  Society,  in  a  quiet  uuol> 
trusive  Avay,  seek  out  and  relieve  tiie  destitute  and  the  suflering.  By 
far  the  largest  part  of  the  benevolent  operations  of  the  town  are  sus- 
tained by  the  efforts  of  females,  and  a  weelily  gathering  at  the  Town 
Hall,  at  which  the  industry  and  kindness  of  the  New  Bedford  ladies 
are  exercised  for  the  relief  of  sickness  and  privation,  presents  a  sight 
far  more  attractive  than  the  crowded  drawing-room  or  festive  hall. 

The  only  literary  societies,  are  the  New  Bedford  Social  Library  As- 
sociation, and  the  New  Bedford  Lyceum,  both  incorporated  institu- 
tions. The  latter  is  confined  to  a  provision  for  a  course  of  lectures 
during  the  winter.  It  has  a  small  amount  of  funds,  the  income  of 
which,  with  the  annual  payments  for  tickets,  are  more  than  sufficient 
to  compensate  the  lecturers  and  provide  a  room  for  their  accommoda- 
tion.    It  has  been  in  operation  about  seventeen  years. 

The  Library  Association  is  a  much  older  institution.  From  a  small 
beginning,  in  the  infancy  of  the  town,  it  has  "grown  with  its  growth, 
and  strengthened  with  its  strength,"  until  it  has  arrived  at  a  position 
of  stability  and  usefulness  highly  gratifying  to  its  friends  and  credit- 
able to  the  community.  Its  library  contains  five  thousand  four  hun- 
dred volumes,  and  every  year  witnesses  an  increase.  The  books  are 
allowed  to  be  taken  out  by  the  proprietors,  and  an  annual  assessment 
furnishes  the  means  of  adding  to  the  number  and  of  paying  the  ex- 
penses of  the  institution. 

We  have  already  spoken  of  the  public  schools.  An  interesting  fact, 
connected  with  them,  is  the  establishment  of  a  public  library  exclu- 
sively for  their  use.  By  the  enlightened  liberality  of  the  state  and  the 
town  governments,  a  fund  has  been  provided  for  a  school  library, 
which  already  numbers  two  thousand  volumes.  By  a  judicious  decis- 
ion of  the  school  committee,  the  means  placed  at  their  disposal  were 
concentrated  in  the  establishment  of  one  library,  instead  of  being  di- 
vided among  the  different  schools,  as  has  been  generally  the  case  in 
the  towns  of  the  state ;  and  the  committee  room  in  the  Town  Hall, 
fitted  up  for  the  purpose,  makes  a  neat  and  convenient  place  of  de- 
posit, and  delivery  to  the  children,  for  whose  benefit  the  books  have 
been  purchased. 

There  is  one  other  library  in  the  town.  It  belongs  to  the  Friends' 
Academy,  and  contains  two  thousand  volumes.  This  academy  is  an 
incorporated  institution,  and,  in  addition  to  the  use  of  the  books,  the 


APPENDIX.  Ill 

pupils  have  the  advantage  of  a  valuable  philosopbical  apparatus  The 
academy  building  is  delightfully  situated  on  the  rising  ground  in  the 
west  part  of  the  town,  and  in  the  centre  of  a  large  inclosure  beauti- 
fully set  out  with  ornamental  trees.  The  corporation  has  a  fund 
which  in  part  supports  the  institution.  The  names  of  the  late  William 
Eotch,  of  this  town,  and  of  Samuel  Elam,  of  Newport,  are  associated 
with  this  academy  as  its  early  patrons  and  benefactoi's.  Its  pupils  are 
now  exclusively  females. 

The  adherents  of  almost  every  shade  of  religious  belief  are  to  be 
found  in  New  Bedford.  Twenty-one  different  houses  of  public  worship 
exist  within  its  limits.  The  Methodists,  including  a  society  of  col- 
oured persons  and  one  of  Reformed  Slethodists,  have  five,  the  ortho- 
dox Congregatioualists  have  four,  the  Baptists,  Friends,  Episcopalians, 
Unitarians,  Universalists,  Roman  Catholics,  and  Mormons,  have  each 
one,  and  the  Christians,  so  called,  have  five.  Two  of  the  latter  are 
owned  and  occupied  by  societies  of  coloured  persons.  Last  Sunday, 
(we  write  August  G,)  it  is  believed  that  there  were  twenty-four  differ- 
ent religious  gatherings  in  the  town.  The  Corae-outers  and  Millerites 
have  regular  meetings,  and  there  is  a  small  gathering  of  Friends  who 
harmonize  in  sentiment  with  those  who  are  familiarly  known  as  the 
Hiclisite  portion  of  that  body. 

The  churches  of  New  Bedford  are  nearly  all  built  of  wood.  The 
Unitarian  and  one  of  the  Congregational  churches  are  of  stone,  and 
the  Friends'  Meeting  House  is  a  large  edifice  of  brick.  Several  of  them 
are  costly  buildings,  and  they  are  generally  neat  and  kept  in  good 
order. 

We  might  extend  our  notice,  as  there  are  several  subjects  of  inter- 
est to  which  we  have  not  alluded;  but  we  have  already  extended  our 
article  far  beyond  our  original  intention.  Our  object  has  been  to  ex- 
hibit this  community  in  its  industrial  aspect;  to  give  an  example  of 
the  growth  of  a  town,  and  of  a  large  accumulation  of  capital,  by  the 
well-directed  enterprise  and  industry  of  its  inhabitants.  Let  it  be  re- 
membered that  the  wealth  which  we  have  seen,  as  belonging  to  the 
people  of  New  Bedford,  has  been  accumulated  by  its  inhabitants.  It 
has  not  been  the  result  of  foreign  labour,  or  the  capital  of  non-resi- 
dents invested  in  the  business  of  the  place.  In  this  point  of  view,  it 
presents  us  with  an  example  of  successful  enterprise,  which  has  but 
few  parallels  in  this,  or  any  other  country.  And  those  who  read  our 
hasty  sketch  of  the  town  will  agree  with  us  in  the  opinion,  that  our 
people  have  no  reason  to  be  ashamed  of  the  disposition  they  have 
made  of  the  means  which  have  been  placed  at  their  disposal. 


112  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

XXI. 

WHALERS    DESTROYED    BY    THE    CONFEDERATE 
CRUISERS. 

Following  is  a  list  of  whaling  vessels  destroyed  by  the  Alabama  and 
other  rebel  cruisers  during  the  rebellion,  with  the  amount  of  oil  on 
board.  All  except  the  first  three  named  were  captured  by  vessels 
fitted  out  from  the  British  dominions. 

1861. 

Bbls.  Sp.     Bbls.  Wh, 

Schooner  John  Adams,  Provincetown, ■\ 

Schooner  Mermaid,  "  >213 

Brig  Parana,  "  ) 

215 

18G2, 

Ship  Benjamin  Tucker,  New  Bedford, 350 

Bark  Eben  Dodge,  "  clean. 

Bark  Elishia  Dunbar,  "  . " 

Ship  Levi  Starbifck,  "  " 

Bark  Virginia,  "  " 

Ship  Ocean  Eover,  Mattapoisett, 710  50 

Schooner  Altamaha,  Sippican clean. 

Ship  Ocmulgee,  Edgartown, 250 

Schooner  Courser,  Provincetown, clean. 

Schooner  Weather  Gage,  Provincetown, " 

Bark  Alert,  New  London, " 

1810  50 

1863. 

Bark  Lafayette,  New  Bedford, .   .  .  170 

Bark  Nye,  "  350  150 

Schooner  Kingflsher,  Fairhaven, 170  10 

Brig  Kate  Cory,  Westport, 155 

Schooner  Rienzi,  Provincetown, 75 

920  160 

1864. 

Bark  Edward,  New  Bedford, 100 

Bark  Golconda,        "  ....  ....  1037  650 

1037  750 


APPENDIX. 


113 


18G5. 

Bbls.  Sp.    Bbls.  Wh. 

Bark  Abigail,           New  Bedford, 30 

Ship  Brunswick,             "                  200 

Bark  Congress,                "                  360 

Sliip  Euplirates,               "                  200 

Bark  Gypsey,                   " 320               50 

Ship  Hector,                     <*                   275 

Ship  Ililhnan,                   "                   200 

Ship  Isaac  llowland,       "                  IGO             480 

Bark  Isabella,                  «'                  300 

Bark  Jireh  Swift,             "                   400 

Bark  Martha,  2d,             " 200 

Ship  Nassau,                    '*                  100 

Bark  Nimrod,                   "                   •.   .    .   .  110 

Ship  Sophia  Thornton,  "                  clean. 

Bark  Waverly,                 "                   50             400 

Ship  Wm.  Thompson,     "                   250 

Bark  Favorite,  Fairhaven, 300              200 

"Bark  Covington,  Warren, 100 

Bark  Catherine,        New  London, 200 

Ship  General  Williams,      "               . 200 

Bark  Edward  Carey,  San  Francisco,  ,  , 275 

Brig  Susan  Abigail,            •'                   clean. 

Bark  William  C.  Nye,        "                   150 

Bark  Harvest,  Honolulu,     300 

Bark  Pearl,              "             clean. 

1710  4100 

25  New  Bedford  vessels, 2742  4150 

2  Fairhaven  vessels, 470  210 

1  Mattapoisett  vessel, 710  60 

1  Sippican  vessel, clean. 

1  Westport  vessel, 155 

1  Edgartown  vessel, 250 

6  Provincetown  vessels, 290 

1  Warren  vessel, 100 

3  New  London  vessels, 400 

3  San  Francisco  vessels, .275  160 

2  Honolulu  vessels,      300 

46  vessels.  5192  5060 

No  port  has  suffered  as  severely  during  the  war  as  New  Bedford,  in 
proportion  to  the  amount  of  shipping  owned. 
By  a  rough  estimate  the  value  of  the  vessels  destroyed  is  §1,150,000, 
o 


114  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

and  of  the  oil  #500,000;  making  the  whole  damage  to  the  whaling 
interest  by  the  acts  of  rebel  pirates  §1,050,000. 


XXII. 

THE  NEW  BEDFORD   FREE  PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

[This  sketch  of  the  history  of  the  New  Bedford  Free  Public  Library 
was  prepared  to  accompany  the  volumes  of  its  reports  sent  to  the 
Centennial  Exposition.] 

The  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  recognizing  from  the  earliest 
period  of  its  history  the  educational  influence  of  public  libraries,  gave 
the  assistance  of  its  legislation  in  the  promotion  of  their  establish- 
ment and  management. 

Early  in  the  present  century,  laws  were  enacted  giving  corporate 
powers  to  the  proprietors  of  Social  Libraries,  many  of  which  had  been 
established  in  A^arious  parts  of  the  Commonwealth;  and  under  the 
provisions  of  the  law  the  number  was  increased,  their  condition  made 
permanent,  and  their  management  rendered  convenient  and  eflective. 

But  a  few  years  after  the  incorporation  of  the  town  of  New  Bed- 
ford, the  want  of  books  and  the  inability  of  most  of  the  inhabitants  to 
procure  them,  led  to  a  combination  of  effort  for  that  purpose. 

The  early  settlers  of  the  village  of  Bedford  were  intelligent  as  well 
as  industrious,  frugal  and  virtuous.  They  were  so  far  enlightened  as 
to  understand  the  value  of  books,  and  they  saw  clearly  that  the  rem- 
edy for  individual  inability  to  procure  them,  was  such  a  combination 
of  means  and  efforts  as  would  render  the  united  ability  the  property 
of  each. 

Several  such  combinations  were  formed  in  New  Bedford  previous  to 
the  passage  of  the  act  conferring  upon  them  corporate  powers. 

The  proprietors  of  Dobson's  Encyclopaedia  were  the  earliest  to  form 
this  social  and  profitable  arrangement.  For  our  unlearned  and  iso- 
lated people  this  work  was  a  library  in  itself.  Eagerly  and  thoroughly 
were  its  pages  read  and  consulted ;  and  the  well-worn  volumes,  now 
in  the  Free  Public  Library,  bear  testimony  to  the  fact  so  creditable  to 
the  people  of  the  village. 


APPENDIX.  115 

The  Library  Society  followed.  This  was  a  more  comprehensive  ef- 
fort. The  desire  for  books  had  outgrown  the  ability  of  Dobson  to 
satisfy.  New  Bedford  was  fortunate  in  having  among  its  people,  men 
who  could  give  a  profitable  direction  to  that  intelligence  which  needed 
the  as'sistance  of  books  to  supply  its  craving  for  gratification  and  in- 
crease. In  this  respect  the  young  and  prosperous  community  was  fa- 
vored beyond  the  average,  in  that  day,  of  villages  whose  population 
was  mainly  composed  of  toilers  in  the  workshop  and  upon  the  sea. 

The  Social  Library  followed.  This  was  a  vigorous,  well  directed, 
and  well  managed  association.  The  good  sense  of  all  recognized  the 
wisdom  of  combination,  and  in  the  union  there  was  found  strength. 
The  three  associations  were  united,  and  the  New  Bedford  Social  Li- 
brary had  a  long,  prosperous,  and  profitable  career.  Its  collection  of 
books  was  never  large,  never  exceeding  five  thousand  volumes ;  but 
such  was  the  care  and  intelligence  bestowed  upon  their  selection  that 
it  was  well  and  truly  said  of  it,  that  take  those  five  thousand  volumes 
out  of  it,  the  libraries  of  the  world  could  not  supply  their  place  with 
other  books  as  well  adapted  to  the  wants  of  such  a  community. 

When  the  passage  of  the  State  law  alloAved  the  proprietors  to  be- 
come a  body  corporate,  advantage  was  taken  of  its  provisions.  For 
nearly  half  a  century,  this  valuable  collection  of  books  was  the 
principal  source  whence  was  supplied  the  desire  of  the  people  for 
knowledge  and  intellectual  recreation.  "  Library-day  "  was  always  a 
welcome  day.  There  was  in  attendance  generally  a  large  number  of 
intelligent  seekers;  and  the  result  of  that  intercourse  with  books  for 
which  this  library  provided  was  a  marked  and  most  promising  and  in- 
teresting feature  in  the  characters  of  the  young  men  and  women  of 
New  Bedford. 

Thus  speaks  the  poet  of  that  early  day,  which  to  us  of  the  present 
may  seem  the  '*  day  of  small  things  "  in  the  intellectual  history  of  our 
city. 

I  warm  to  think,  as  this  bright  scene  I  scan, 

Uow  it  has  ended,  how  it  flrst  began. 

Far  from  this  crowd  of  manhood  and  of  grace, 

I  wander  back  o'er  half  a  (Mintury's  space. 

The  little  town,  in  sombre  garb  arrayed, 

Gleams  still  through  flaunting  fashion  and  parade; 

I  see  its  fathers,  prudent  still,  yet  fain 

To  grow  in  learning  as  they  grow  in  gain. 

Happy  for  us,  this  simple  truth  thej'  knew, 

That  cash  is  good,  but  culture  something  too. 

All  books  were  scarce;  most  books  were  somewhat  dear. 

Yet  how  they  sowed  the  far-brought  treasure  here ! 

True  to  their  time,  but  truer  to  ourselves, 

Think  how  editions  gathered  on  tlieir  shelves  1 

'T  was  nobly  done,  to  make  the  school-house  ft*ee! 
A  nobler  school-house,  fitly  founded,  seel 


116  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Not  tha  t  all  lore  from  reading  can  l)e  had, 
For  too  much  reading  sometimes  makes  us  mad ; 
But  education,  still  a  life-long  ft-iend. 
Goes  on  with  life,  with  that  can  only  end. 

To  join  together  all  that  makes  refined 
The  wisdom,  art  and  fancj"  of  mankind; 
To  lend  to  all  who  hither  come  to  read 
The  utmost  help  to  meet  their  utmost  need; 
What  ampler  work  could  ample  fortune  do. 
To  self,  to  city,  to  the  world  more  true? 
A  hundred  glorious  gardens  here  we  find ; 
Oh,  culture  still  tliis  garden  of  the  mind! 
Oh,  plant  and  water,  dear  as  wealth  xuibought. 
The  flower  of  fancy  and  the  oak  of  thought !  * 

It  was  an  easy  and  natural  step  from  the  law  granting  corporate 
powers  to  social  libraries,  to  that  by  which  the  towns  and  cities  of 
the  State  were  allowed  to  establish  municipal  libraries,  and  to  raise 
by  taxation  the  means  for  their  purchase  and  support. 

That  act  had  its  origin  in  the  fundamental  principle,  that  the  Stale 
should  provide  for  the  education  of  the  people.  Under  the  influence 
of  this  Harvard  College  had  been  established,  and  the  public  school 
system  had  become  an  integral  part  of  the  public  polity.  The  act  .by 
which  the  several  municipalities  were  allowed  to  establish  free  public 
libraries,  had  its  origin  in  the  idea  that  this  State  guardianship  and 
legislation,  to  be  perfected,  should  be  complemented  by  a  provision 
for  the  extension  of  the  educational  period  into  adult  life. 

It  was  seen 

"  That  education,  still  a  life-long  fHend, 
Goes  on  with  life,  with  that  can  only  end." 

The  adult  school  and  the  free  public  library  are  both  the  offspring 
of  the  educational  policy  of  the  Commonwealth  founded  by  the  Puri- 
tans. 

This  intimate  and  complemental  connection  between  the  schools  and 
the  library  was  clearly  apprehended  and  stated  by  the  trustees  of  the 
New  Bedford  Free  Public  Library.  Under  this  point,  in  their  second 
annual  report,  they  use  the  following  language. 

*'  Our  library  has  become  one  of  the  institutions  of  the  city. 

"  It  has  become  a  valuable,  and  will  soon  be  considered  as  an  indis- 
pensable auxiliary  in  the  worlj  of  popular  education. 

"  It  has  become  incorporated  both  in  idea  and  in  fact,  into  the  cata- 
logue of  subjects  demanding  the  fostering  care  and  annual  support  of 
the  municipal  government. 

"Its  claims  for  such  attention  and  support  are  founded  upon  princi- 
ples which  lie  at  the  foundation  of  our  republican  institutions. 

*  Charles  Tabcr  Congdon's  poem  at  the  laying  of  the  comer  stone  of  the  Library 
lluilding. 


Al'PENDIX.  117 

"  To  train  and  enlighten  the  public  mind  is  a  work  to  which  a  liberal 
portion  of  the  public  wealth  must  be  devoted ;  and  as  being  in  har- 
mony with  this  idea,  and  as  the  cap-stone  of  our  system  of  public  ed- 
ucatnon,  the  Public  Library  has  claims  upon  all  whose  aim  is  the  pro- 
motion of  the  general  welfare, 

"  Such  was  the  theori/ when  the  work  was  begun  by  the  state  and 
completed  by  the  city,  —  such  is  now  the  fact,  demonstrated  by  our 
experience  and  placed  beyond  the  reach  of  doubt  or  cavil." 

The  Act  to  Authorize  Cities  and  Towns  to  estahlisii  and  main- 
tain PuuLic  Libkakies  was  passed  by  the  General  Court  of  Massa- 
chusetts, May  24,  1851. 

The  Ordinance  for  the  Establishment  and  Government  of  a 
Free  Public  Library,  in  New  Bedford,  was  passed  August  16,  1852. 

The  first  movement  in  the  undertaking  was  an  unsuccessful  one.  It 
was  made  in  the  City  Council  July  8th,  1851,  by  Warren  Ladd,  then  a 
member  of  the  popular  branch  of  that  body.  The  order  was  only  to 
consider  the  expediency  of  the  measure.  It  passed  the  Common 
Council  without  a  dissenting  voice,  but  the  Aldermen  nouconcurred. 
It  will  be  seen  that  this  movement  was  but  forty-Jive  days  after  the 
passage  of  the  enabling  act. 

^^n  the  27th  of  May,  1852,  a  large  petition,  headed  by  James  B. 
Congdon,  was  presented  to  the  Council. 

This  movement  originated  with  a  society  of  young  men,  called  the 
L'nion  Debating  Association.  This  society,  at  a  meeting  held  April 
Gth,  1852,  in  connection  with  a  preamble  declaratory  of  the  conviction 
that  a  free  public  library  would  be  of  great  advantage  to  the  young 
men  of  the  city,  passed  the  following  resolution. 

"  JResolved,  That  this  Association  cause  petitions  to  be  circulated 
praying  our  municipal  authorities  to  establish  such  an  institution." 

The  petition  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Public  Instruction, 
•who  reported  on  the  14th  of  June,  They  recommended  an  appropria- 
tion of  fifteen  hundred  dollars  for  the  establishment  of  the  library. 

In  their  report,  the  committee  attach  great  importance  to  the  fact 
that  they  had  been  assured  that  "  provided  the  authorities  should,  by 
the  passage  of  the  order  making  the  appropriation  asked  for,  establish 
the  principle,  that  the  maintenance  of  a  free  city  library  for  the  con- 
tinuous education  of  the  people  will  be  the  settled  polity  of  the  city," 
they're  thousand  volumes  of  the  New  Bedford  Social  Library  would  be 
transferred  to  the  city. 

Quoting  the  words  of  James  B.  Congdon,  through  whom  this  offer 
of  the  proprietors  of  tlie  library  was  made,  they  say,  "With  such  a 
foundation  to  build  upon,  with  the  appropriation  now  prayed  for  to 
give  it  a  position  for  immediate  and  extended  usefulness,  the  library 
would  open  to  our  inhabitants  the  means  of  innocent  enjoyment  and 


118  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

of  valuable  acquisition,  and  be  a  source  of  commendable  pride  to  our 
citizens." 

But  tlie  Free  Public  Library  had,  in  fact,  been  established  before  the 
presentation  of  the  report.  The  appropriation  bill  for  the  year  which 
had  already  passed,  contained  an  item  of  fifteen  hundred  dollars  for  the 
library.  Councilman  Pitman,*  who  was  a  member  of  the  committee  to 
whom  the  petition  was  referred,  had  anticipated  the  favorable  action 
of  the  council,  and  had  introduced  and  carried  an  amendment  to  the 
bill  making  the  appropriation  as  above  stated.  This  amendment  was 
made  previous  to  the  presentation  of  the  report  of  the  committee. 
The  appropriation  bill  passed  July  20,  1852.  The  date  of  the  adoption 
of  that  amendment  is  the  date  of  the  establishment  of  the  Xeio  Bedford 
Free  Public  Library. 

The  library  was  opened  for  the  use  of  the  people  and  the  delivery 
of  books  on  Thursday,  the  third  day  of  March,  1853. 

The  ordinance  establishing  the  Boston  Public  Library  was  passed 
October  12th,  1852,  and  the  doors  were  opened  for  the  delivery  of 
books  on  the  2d  day  of  May,  1854. 

The  number  of  volumes  at  the  opening  was  between  five  and  six 
thousand. 

It  is  an  interesting  and  creditable  fact,  that  the  New  Bedford  Tree 
Public  Library  is  the  only  public  library  established  under  the  law  of 
1851  excepting  that  in  Boston,  noticed  by  Edwards  in  his  elaborate 
"  Memoirs  of  Libraries  "  published  in  London  in  1859.  Ihe  following 
extract  is  from  the  second  volume  of  that  able  work.  After  reciting 
the  provisions  of  the  law,  the  author  proceeds  as  follows : 

"  The  first  town  to  take  action  under  this  Statute  was  New  Bedford, 
by  whose  Council  a  Free  Public  Library  was  established  in  August, 
1852.  The  proprietors  of  a  Subscription,  or  '  Social  Library '  trans- 
ferred their  collection  to  the  new  foundation,  which  was  opened  for 
public  use  on  the  3d  of  March,  1853,  with  about  6000  volumes.  This 
number  has  been,  within  about  three  years,  increased  to  9000;  and  in 
their  fourth  report,  the  Trustees  are  enabled  to  affirm  that  '  it  is  un- 
doubtedly true  that  no  Act  of  the  municipal  authorities  of  New  Bed- 
ford has  reached  with  its  recreative  an  improving  operation  so  large  a 
part  of  our  population,  and  probably  none  has  ever  met  so  universally 
and  deeply  the  approbation  of  the  people.  A  Free  Public  Library  is 
the  crowning  glory  of  the  system  of  public  education,  which  has  been 
from  our  earliest  history  the  pride  of  Massachusetts.'  In  a  Report  of 
the  preceding  year  there  is  a  passage  bearing  on  a  poiut  which  is  al- 
ways interesting  in  connection  with  the  present  subject  —  that  of  the 
selection  of  books :  '  While  care  has  been  taken,'  say  the  Trustees, 
'that  no  publication  injurious  to  the  public  morals  should  find  a  place 

*Hon.  Robert  C.  Titman,  one  of  the  judges  of  the  Superior  Court  of  the  Com- 
monwealth. 


APPENDIX.  119 

upon  our  shelves,  we  have  endeavored  to  divest  ourselves,  in  our 
efforts  to  place  before  our  fellow-citizens  the  means  of  a  more  exten- 
sive and  genial  culture,  of  all  narrow  and  sectarian  partialities.  In 
this  report  we  are  gratified  to  be  able  to  state  that  no  difference  of 
opinion  has  for  a  single  moment  interrupted  the  harmony  and  unanim- 
ity of  our  proceedings.' " 

The  State  law  and  the  City  ordinance  under  the  authority  and  direc- 
tion of  which  our  Free  Public  Library  was  established  are  models  of 
comprehensive  brevity.  The  one  contains  twenty  and  the  other 
twenty-seven  lines— about  one  printed  page.  The  law  gives  the  power 
to  assess  a  tax  for  library  purposes,  and  contains  the  following  impor- 
tant provision. 

"Any  town  or  city  may  receive  in  its  corporate  capacity,  and  hold 
and  manage,  any  devise,  bequest  or  donation,  for  the  establishment, 
increase,  or  maintenance  of  a  public  library  within  the  same." 

The  ordinance  provides  for  the  election  of  trustees,  and  confers 
upon  them  all  the  powers  necessary  for  the  establishment  and  man- 
agement of  the  library. 

The  number  of  trustees  was  originally  six,  three  ex-officii  and  three 
at  large,  chosen  annually.  A  change  has  been  made  by  which  the 
number  at  large  is  increased  to  six,  two  being  chosen  every  year  for 
three  years.  The  ex-officii  members  of  the  board  remain  the  same,  — 
the  Mayor,  who  is  president,  the  President  of  the  Common  Council, 
and  the  Chairman  of  the  Joint  Standing  Committee  of  the  City  Council 
on  Public  Instruction. 

Robert  C.  Ingraham  was  appointed  librarian,  and  the  library  has  had 
no  other.  At  first  he  had  no  helper.  It  was  soon  found  necessary  to 
provide  an  assistant,  and  he  now  has  two,  both  ladies. 

The  Rules  and  Regulations  first  established  are  contained  in  the  first 
Report.  They  have  been  twice  changed.  Those  now  in  force  will  be 
found  in  the  twenty-second  annual  Report.  In  accordance  with  their 
provisions,  a  superintendent  has  been  added  to  the  officers  of  the 
library. 

From  this  starting  point,  it  will  be  interesting  to  consider  the  his- 
tory and  progress  of  the  library,  under  the  more  important  aspects  in 
which  they  are  presented  in  the  reports  and  other  publications. 

They  may  be  arranged  as  follows : 

The  books,  their  number,  character,  and  rate  of  increase. 

The  pamphlets  and  newspapers. 

The  Library  building. 

Donations  :  books,  pamphlets,  pictures. 

Trust  funds. 

Reports. 

Dartmouth  Centennial. 

Catalogues,  bulletins,  and  advertisements. 


120  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

We  have  seen  that  the  library  was  opened  with  about  six  thousand 
volumes  upon  its  shelves.  Five  thousand  of  these  were  from  the  So- 
cial Libi'ary.  .It  is  due  to  the  memory  of  the  enlightened  and  consci- 
entious men  who  were  active  in  the  establishment  and  management  of 
that  library  again  to  call  attention  to  the  high  character  of  its  collec- 
tion. To  those  upon  wliom  it  devolved  to  take  charge  of  it  after  it 
had  become  the  property  of  the  city,  this  elevated  character  of  the 
former  managers  and  of  the  books  which  their  scrupulous  integrity  and 
enlightened  zeal  had  gathered  were  well  known ;  and  both  the  men 
and  the  books  had  an  important  influence  in  the  right  direction  in  the 
selection  of  the  additions  the  trustees  were  called  upon  to  make. 

The  six  thousand  volumes  have,  in  the  twenty-three  years  which 
have  elapsed  since  the  opening  of  the  library,  increased  to  thirty-four 
thousand,  an  average  increase  of  a  little  more  than  twelve  hundred 
volumes  annually. 

It  is  not  within  the  scope  of  this  brief  notice  of  the  institution,  to 
enter  into  such  an  examination  of  the  works  which  are  found  upon  its 
catalogue  as  will  enable  the  reader  to  obtain  a  very  decided  idea  of  its 
distinctive  character  or  relative  position. 

Its  managers  have  always  kept  in  view  the  fact,  that  a  public  library 
must  be  a  popular  library ;  and  one  result  of  a  steady  regard  to  this 
idea  has  been,  that  with  the  exception  of  two  or  three  hundred  vol- 
umes the  books  are  all  in  the  English  language.  This  fact  should  be 
considered  in  connection  with  that  of  the  number  of  volumes  It  con- 
tains. 

The  managers  have  not  felt  at  liberty  to  apply  the  means  at  their 
disposal  to  the  purchase  of  costly  publications,  —  costly  because  rare, 
or  because  of  the  expensive  character  of  their  binding,  illustration,  or 
ornamentation.  The  library  is  not  without  many  such  productions, 
but  they  have  been  obtained  mainly  by  the  direct  or  indirect  agency  of 
its  benefactors. 

In  natural  history  and  periodical  literature  it  is  distinctively  rich; 
and  it  has  been,  from  the  beginning,  the  aim  of  the  managers  to  de- 
vote a  liberal  share  of  their  means  to  the  collection  of  such  works  as 
are  valuable  to  the  artist  and  the  artisan  in  the  attainment  and  practice 
of  their  respective  occupations. 

One  room  is  devoted  to  the  public  documents  of  the  state  and  na- 
tion, in  which  the  collection,  although  not  perfect,  is  very  full. 

The  voluminous  issues  of  the  Patent  Office  are  all  upon  the  shelves. 

The  publications  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution  are  all  to  be  found 
there. 

The  series  of  the  London  Art  Journal  complete,  with  a  large  number 
of  illustrated  works  devoted  to  a  description  of  art,  ancient,  medifeval, 
and  modern,  give  evidence  that  the  managers  have  recognized  and 
acted  upon  the  fact  of  the  educational  and  elevating  influence  of  the 


APPENDIX.  121- 

beautiful.    The  income  of  one  of  the  funds  for  the  increase  of  the  library 
has  been  wholly  devoted  to  the  purchase  of  this  class  of  publications. 

The  number  of  pamphlets  is  about  eight  thousand.  Most  of  them 
are  arranged  according  to  their  subjects,  so  as  to  be  conveniently  con- 
sulted. From  the  opening  of  the  library,  constant  efforts  have  been 
made  to  collect  and  arrange  the  publications  of  a  local  character.  The 
publications  of  the  municipal  government,  both  town  and  city,  are 
complete. 

The  library  does  not  possess  an  extensive  collection  of  newspapers. 
Most  of  those  it  holds  are  of  a  local  publication,  and  some  of  them  are 
complete  and  very  valuable. 

The  New  Bedford  Mercury  was  first  published  in  1807,  only  twenty 
years  after  the  incorporation  of  the  town,  and  is  still  issued.  Eighty- 
six  bound  volumes  of  this  valuable  publication  were  presented  by  Ben- 
jamin Lindsey,  who  was  its  publisher  from  1831  to  1862.  For  nine- 
teen years  it  was  published  by  his  father,  and  five  years  by  the  father 
and  son.  The  issues  since  Mr.  Lindsey's  liberal  donation  have  been 
added. 

To  Mr.  Lindsey  the  library  is  also  indebted  for  a  volume  of  the 
Christian  Philanthropist,  a  -weekly  paper  published  in  New  Bedford 
about  half  a  century  ago,  containing  all  the  numbers. 

The  Daily  Evening  Standard,  a  valuable  and  successful  newspaper, 
is  among  the  highly  prized  possessions  of  the  library.  In  18G2,  eleven 
bound  volumes  were  presented  to  the  institution  by  its  publisher, 
Edmund  Anthony.  It  was  established  by  him  in  1850,  and  all  the 
issues  are  now  to  be  found  in  the  library. 

The  beautiful  building  now  occupied  by  the  New  Bedford  Free  Pub- 
lic Library  was  erected  in  1856-7.  Its  cost  was  about  forty  thousand 
dollars.  It  is  built  of  brick,  with  granite  underpinning  and  steps  and 
free-stone  ornaments.  A  view  of  the  building  accompanies  this  vol- 
ume.* 

The  corner  stone  of  the  Free  Public  Library  building  was  laid  on 
the  28th  of  August,  1856.  The  published  account  of  the  simple  but 
interesting  ceremonial  makes  a  part  of  the  collection  to  which  this 
brief  sketch  is  an  introduction. 

The  principal  exercises  were  an  introductory  address  by  George 
Rowland,  Jr.,  Mayor  of  the  City,  an  address  by  James  B.  Congdon, 
and  a  poem  by  Charles  T.  Congdon  of  New  York. 

In  the  address  of  Mr.  Congdon,  as  well  as  in  several  of  the  annual 
reports,  the  positions  are  assumed  that  the  Free  Public  Library  of 
New  Bedford  was  the  first  established  by  order  or  ordinance  under 
the  law  of  1851 ;  the  first  from  which  books  were  issued  under  said 

*  The  volume  of  reports- 
P 


122  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

law;  that  the  Library  Building  was  the  second  whose  construction 
was  commenced  after  its  passage ;  and  that  prior  to  its  establishment 
and  the  delivery  of  books  therefrom,  there  had  never  existed  a  librai-y 
established  and  wholly  supported  and  managed  by  a  municipality,  free 
to  all  the  inhabitants,  its  books  for  the  use,  at  the  library  or  at  home, 
of  all  the  people  without  payment  or  pledge. 

Mr.  Cougdon  in  his  address  brings  vividly  forward  the  men  who  had 
been  active  in  the  earlier  eflbrts  to  secure  to  the  people  the  benefits 
of  a  library,  and  makes  honorable  mention  of  those  whose  intelligent 
activity  had  been  crowned  by  the  establishment  by  the  city  of  the  New 
Bedford  Free  Public  Library. 

The  author  of  the  poem  had  been  a  New  Bedford  boy,  and  was  able 
to  give  a  very  lively  description  of  the  prominent  features  of  the  old 
Social  Library. 

In  the  appendix  to  the  "  Proceedings,"  and  in  the  notes  to  Mr.  Cong- 
don's  address,  there  will  be  found  a  large  amount  of  valuable  infor- 
mation, and  interesting  contributions  to  the  local  history  of  New 
Bedford. 

Of  the  Library  Building  the  upper  rooms  only  are  occupied  by  the 
library.  The  principal  room  is  neat  and  tasteful  in  its  architectural 
features  and  convenient  in  its  arrangements.  It  has  two  tiers  of  al- 
coves, one  on  the  floor,  and  one  on  the  gallery  which  is  carried  around 
the  whole  room  excepting  on  the  north  end  where  the  stairs  lead  to  it. 
An  iron  railing  divides  the  alcoves  from  the  visitors.  Reading  desks 
outside  the  railing  contain  the  periodicals,  which  are  accessible  to  all; 
and  seated  at  these  desks  the  visitors  are,  in  addition  to  these,  fur- 
nished with  any  books  they  may  wish  to  consult.  The  delivery  is  at 
a  table  at  the  north  end.  A  stand  for  newspapers  occupies  a  central 
position  in  the  room.  Six  other  rooms  are  occupied  for  library  pur- 
poses, four  for  books,  one  for  the  trustees,  and  one  for  the  convenience 
of  the  librarian  and  his  assistants. 

The  library  has  had  a  growth  unexpectedly  rapid,  and  at  this  time 
the  want  of  more  room  is  severely  felt.  The  want  will  probably  be 
supplied  by  removing  the  public  oflices  and  giving  the  library  the 
whole  building,  or  by  enlarging  it. 

The  reports  all  contain  lists  of  the  yearly  donations  of  books,  pam- 
phlets, and  newspapers,  and  care  has  always  been  taken  to  notice 
these  accessions  and  express  the  obligations  of  the  trustees  to  their 
numerous  benefactors. 

Nearly  the  whole  collection  of  pamphlets  and  newspapers  are  dona- 
tions. 

The  contributions  of  books  amount  at  this  time  to  not  less  than  two 
thousand  volumes. 

The  most  valuable  upon  the  list  is  a  perfect  copy  of  Audubon's  Birds 


APPENDIX.  123 

of  America.    This  was  the  gift  of  James  Arnold.    Mr.  Arnold  and 
family  contributed  many  other  valuable  publications. 

Audubon's  Quadrupeds  was  contributed  by  the  family  of  Andrew 
liobeson. 

The  care  taken  to  give  every  donation,  whatever  its  character,  its 
proper  place  for  useful  and  convenient  reference,  has  led  to  the  pres- 
ervation and  presentation  of  much  reading  matter  which  formerly 
found  its  way  into  the  paper-mills. 

Under  the  head  of  donations  it  may  be  well  to  notice  the  few  pic- 
tures which  are  found  in  the  library.  A  landscape  by  "William  Allen 
Wall,  an  engraving  of  Bierstadt's  celebrated  painting  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  and  a  chromo  of  Bradford's  "Wrecked  Sealer,"  are  the 
principal  pictures  other  than  the  portraits.  Two  of  the  portraits  are 
in  the  main  library  room,  one  of  George  Rowland,  Junior,  by  Wilson, 
the  other  of  James  B.  Congdon,  by  Eaton.  The  first  named  was  exe- 
cuted by  order  of  the  City  Council  of  New  Bedford;  the  other  was  a 
contribution  by  a  large  number  of  the  citizens,  friends  of  Mr.  Congdon. 
These  portraits  are  full  length  and  full  size,  and  occupy  the  north  and 
south  ends  of  the  library-room  respectively. 

The  other  portraits  are  hung  in  the  trustees'  room,  to  which  they 
constitute  appropriate  and  cherished  ornaments. 

A  rude  unfinished  portrait  of  William  Rotch,  by  an  artist  by  the 
name  of  Hinkley,  is  a  sufflcieutly  correct  delineation  of  the  benevolent 
and  expressive  features  of  that  great  and  good  man  to  render  it  val- 
uable in  the  absence  of  any  other. 

The  portraits  of  James  Arnold,  Charles  W.  Morgan,  and  Thomas  A. 
Greene,  are  all  by  William  A.  Wall.  The  memory  of  these  men,  who 
have  long  been  numbered  with  the  departed,  will  ever  be  cherished  in 
the  community  which  was  for  a  long  series  of  years  made  better  and 
happier  by  their  presence.  An  engraved  portrait  of  Captain  Rowland 
R.  Crocker  is  highly  valued.  A  glance  at  the  index  which  accompanies 
this  volume,  will  show  that  the  names  of  all  these  men  have  had  hon- 
orable mention  in  the  publications  of  the  trustees  of  the  library. 

The  Trust  Funds  established  for  the  benefit  of  the  library  are  three. 

The  first  upon  the  list  is  the  Georgk  IIowlaxd  Junior  Fund. 

Its  amount  is  the  sum  of  two  years'  salary  of  George  Ilovvland, 
Junior,  as  mayor,  sixteen  hundred  dollars.  Mr.  Howland,  in  his  note 
accompanying  the  donation,  expressed  the  wish  that  the  income  might 
be  expended  for  such  works  as,  from  their  more  expensive  character, 
the  trustees  might  not  feel  justified  in  purchasing  from  the  limited 
city  appropriation.  The  condition  has  been  strictly  complied  with ; 
and  many  rare  and  valuable  books  ftre  now  the  property  of  the  library 
by  reason  of  this  timely  and  liberal  benefaction. 

Under  the  will  of  Charles  W.  Morgau,  there  was  paid  to  the  city  by 


124:  CENTENNIAL   CELEBRATION. 

William  J.  Rotch,  his  executor,  the  sura  of  one  thousand  dollars, 
which  constitutes  the  Charles  "\Y.  Mokgax  Fund.  The  income  of 
this  fund  has  generally  been  expended  in  the  manner  described  in  the 
preceding  notice.  This  bequest,  with  countless  other  acts  of  intelli- 
gent and  warm-hearted  benevolence  with  which  the  life  of  this  gentle- 
man was  crowned,  has  endeared  his  memory  to  the  hearts  of  all  the 
inhabitants  of  the  city. 

Under  the  will  of  Sylvia  Ann  Rowland,  the  city  of  New  Bedford  was 
paid  the  sum  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  testament  of  this 
excellent  lady  contained  the  following  interesting  item. 

"I  give  and  bequeath  to  the  city  of  New  Bedford  the  sum  of  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars ;  and  direct  that  this  sum  shall  be  invested 
judiciously,  under  the  direction  of  the  City  Council,  and  the  income 
therefrom  shall  be  expended  and  used  for  the  promotion  and  support 
within  the  city  of  liberal  educatiou,  and  the  enlargement,  from  time  to 
time,  of  the  Free  Public  Library." 

With  the  utmost  care  and  deliberation,  by  the  aid  of  manj'  of  the 
wisest  and  best  minds  of  our  city,  an  ordinance  was  framed  and 
adopted  by  the  City  Council  to  carry  into  effect  the  provisions  of  this 
munificent  bequest. 

In  the  twentieth  i-eport  of  tlie  trustees  of  the  library  all  the  proceed- 
ings connected  with  the  enactment  of  this  important  ordinance  are 
fully  set  forth,  and  in  various  other  reports  will  be  found  notices  and 
statements  connected  with  its  history  and  administration. 

Of  this  bequest,  fifty  thousand  dollars  were  set  apart  for  the  library, 
and  constituted  the  Sylvia  Anx  Rowland  Free  Public  Library 
Fund.  Its  income  is  now  the  chief  dependence  of  the  trustees  for 
the  "  enlargement "  of  the  library,  as  the  appropriation  by  the  city 
barely  suflBces  for  tlie  salaries  and  other  expenses  of  the  institution. 

During  the  delay  whicli  attended  the  litigation  upon  the  will  of  the 
deceased,  the  funds  of  the  estate  largely  increased,  and  in  addition  to 
the  bequest  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  which  constitutes  the  fund,  about 
ten  thousand  dollars  was  paid  into  the  treasury  of  the  city  as  interest 
or  income  and  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  library. 

Under  the  direction  of  the  trustees  of  the  library  a  plain  white 
marble  tablet  commemorating  this  noble  act  was  placed  in  the  princi- 
pal room  of  the  institution,  which  is  thus  described  on  the  twelfth 
page  of  the  twenty-second  report. 

"It  is  surrounded  by  a  frame  of  tasteful  design  and  of  perfect  exe- 
cution. The  whole,  both  in  plan  and  performance,  includiug  the  site 
selected  for  its  erection,  is  one  which  commends  itself  to  the  good 
sense,  the  feelings  of  propriety,  and  the  grateful  emotions  of  the  peo- 
ple of  New  Bedford.  The  inscription  upon  the  tablet  is  as  follows: 
'  This  tablet  commemorates  the  enlightened  liberality  of  Sylvia  Ann 
Ilowland,  who  bestowed  upon  the  city  of  New  Bedford  the  sum  of 

t 

i 


APPENDIX.  125 

two  hundred  thousand  dollars  :  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  aid  in 
supplying  the  city  with  pure  water;  and  one  hundred  thousand  as  a 
fund  for  the  promotion  of  liberal  education  by  the  enlargement  of  the 
Free  Public  Library,  and  by  extending  to  the  children  and  youth  of 
the  city  the  means  of  a  Avider  and  more  generous  culture.'  " 

It  will  be  seen  by  this  inscription  that  the  whole  amount  bequeathed 
to  the  city  of  New  Bedford  by  this  lady  was  two  hundred  thousand 
doUai's.  One  half  the  sum  was  applied  to  the  construction  of  the  New 
Bedford  Water  AYorks ;  the  other  was  equally  divided,  forming  the 
library  and  educational  funds. 

The  amount  of  the  several  trust  funds  established  for  the  benefit  of 
the  Free  Public  Library,  which  have  been  severally  noticed,  is  dfty- 
two  thousand  six  hundred  dollars. 

The  annual  income  is  three  thousand  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  dol- 
lars. 

This  income  Is  a  vital  element  in  the  existence  of  the  library.  We 
have  seen  that  the  ordinary  annual  appropriation  is  necessarily  ab- 
sorbed by  the  expenses  of  management.  It  is  therefore  mainly  upon 
the  income  of  the  permanent  funds  that  the  trustees  depend  for  the 
supply  of  books  and  periodicals,  and  for  the  constant  renovation  which 
the  active  use  of  the  books  renders  necessary. 

The  simplicity,  convenience  and  effectiveness  of  the  method  by 
which  these  trust  funds  are  managed,  commends  it  to  the  approval  of 
every  one  by  whom  it  has  been  carefullj'  examined,  and  has  received 
the  sanction  of  the  judicial  authority  of  the  Commonwealth. 

The  city  is  the  trustee.  No  judicial  act  was  necessary  to  establish 
this  trusteeship. 

The  trust  was  created  by  the  receipt  of  the  money.  The  ordinance 
recognizes  the  trust  obligations,  fixes  the  rate  of  income,  and  regu- 
lates the  management.  The  trustees  of  the  Free  Public  Library  are 
by  the  ordinance  the  agents  of  the  trustee,  which  is  the  city.  They 
are  held  to  a  rigid  conformity  to  the  conditions  of  the  bequest  and  the 
requisitions  of  the  ordinance.  The  routine  by  which  the  agents  are 
held  to  a  faithful  performance  of  the  trust  committed  to  them,  and  by 
Avhich  the  city  authorities  are  constantly  informed,  even  to  the  minutest 
details,  of  the  proceedings  of  the  board  of  trustees,  is  a  model  of 
order  and  efficiency. 

Should  a  judicial  inquiry  at  anytime  be  thought  desirable,  the  re- 
ports of  the  trustees  of  the  library  would  furnish  all  the  needful  evi- 
dence as  to  the  manner  in  which  the  trust  has  been  administered. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  one  ordinance  regulates  the  adminis- 
tration both  of  the  library  and  educational  fuuds.  In  the  case  of  the 
latter,  the  agency  is  placed  with  the  school  committee.  They  are  held 
to  the  same  careful  administration,  and  subject  to  the  same  severe 
scrutiny  as  the  lil^rary  board. 


126  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

The  annual  Reports  of  the  board  of  trustees  are  twenty-four  in 
number.  These  reports,  with  the  "  Corner  Stone  Proceedings,"  con- 
stitute the  volume  to  which  this  brief  introduction  is  attached.  They 
make  an  aggregate  of  seven  hundred  pages.  As  eigliteen  of  the  whole 
number  were  prepared  by  the  same  hand,  the  general  priuciples  of 
management  are  made  prominent  throughout  the  series,  and  the  char- 
acter of  the  facts  stated  and  the  methods  of  arrangement  will  be  fouud 
to  be  harmonious.  The  annals  of  but  few  public  institutions  have 
been  for  so  long  a  period  so  faithfully  presented.  They  are  ''short" 
and  they  are  "  simple,"  but  they  contain  a  large  amount  of  valu- 
ble  information,  practical  suggestion,  and  interesting  local  history. 
Through  them  the  citizens  of  New  Bedford  have  had  spread  before 
them  the  operation  and  condition  of  their  favorite  institution,  and  in 
this  way  their  faith  in  its  value  has  been  sustained  and  strengthened, 
and  their  zeal  on  its  behalf  kept  alive  and  increased. 

As  the  New  Bedford  public  library  was  the  pioneer  undertaking,  its 
reports  have  been  widely  distributed  over  the  country,  and  have  been 
found  very  useful  in  guiding  the  efforts  of  those  who  have  been  en- 
gaged in  the  establishment  of  similar  institutions.  The  encourage- 
ment of  our  success  and  the  aid  extended  by  our  methods  have  in 
many  cases  done  much  towards  insuring  a  favorable  result  to  the  pub- 
lic library  movements  in  various  parts  of  the  country. 

A  novel  but  in  one  view  a  highly  valuable  feature  of  these  reports, 
is  the  brief  biographical  notices  that  are  to  be  fouud  in  the  series. 
The  necrology  of  the  Free  Public  Library  Reports  contain  many  no- 
tices of  the  prominent  citizens  of  New  Bedford,  whose  intelligence, 
integrity,  entei'prise  and  benevolence,  have  endeared  their  memories 
to  the  people  and  constituted  them  stirring  and  iuliuential  examples 
of  true  Christian  manliness  of  character. 

The  brief  memoirs  of  Thomas  A.  Greene,  James  Arnold,  Thomas 
Mandell,  Henry  H.  Crapo,  and  others,  are  not  only  pleasant  and  tender 
offerings  to  the  memory  of  departed  worth,  but  are  pregnant  with  rich 
lessons  for  inciting  the  young  into  the  paths  of  wisdom  and  an  hon- 
orable distinction,  and  for  their  guidance  and  protection. 

We  hope  that  this  interesting  and  valuable  feature  of  these  reports 
■will  be  retained ;  and  that  these  "  discourses  of  the  dead  "  will  not  be 
restricted  to  those  who  may  have  been  connected  with  the  library. 
Let  a  niche  be  found  for  all  who,  like  those  whose  names  have  already 
had  honorable  mention,  shall  have  left  behind  them  a  record,  the  pe- 
rusal of  which  shall  revive  pleasant  memories  and  prompt  to  noble 
deeds. 

The  celebration  of  the  Old  Dartmouth  Centennial  in  1864  was  an 
event,  an  account  of  which  may  here  have  a  brief  mention.    Its  in- 


APPENDIX.  127 

ception  was  with  the  trustees  of  the  library,  and  its  arrangements  and 
success  were  largely  the  result  of  their  action  and  efficient  cooperation. 

The  fullness  of  the  report  that  was  made  of  the  proceedings  on  the 
occasion,  renders  unnecessary  any  extended  notice. 

The  celebration  toolc  place  on  the  14th  of  September.  Two  hun- 
dred years  before,  the  old  town  of  Dartmouth  received  from  the  Gen- 
eral Court  at  riymouth  its  municipal  charter.  The  then  new  town 
covered  the  territory  which  now  includes  the  towns  of  Dartmouth, 
Westport,  Fairhaven,  and  Acushnet,  and  the  city  of  Xew  Bedford. 
The  municipal  authorities  of  all  these  places  united  in  the  celebration, 
and  numbers  of  the  people  of  them  were  present  at  the  exercises. 

A  few  years  after  the  incorporation  of  the  town,  and  as  early  as  any 
written  record  of  its  public  proceedings  bears  date.  King  Philip's  war 
laid  desolate  the  new-born  municipality.  At  the  close  of  the  first  cen- 
tury another  desolating  war  was  raging;  and,  fired  by  the  torches  of 
General  Grey's  red-coated  regulars,  who  in  their  lust  for  liquor  and 
appetite  for  destruction  rivalled  the  exploits  of  the  red  men  of  Meta- 
com,  the  thriving  village  of  Bedford  and  seventy  sail  of  vessels  in 
its  harbor  became  a  prey  to  the  flames.  Another  century  passes,  and 
when  in  18(>4,  on  the  arrival  of  the  second  centennial  period,  the  peo- 
ple were  called  together  that  it  might  receive  an  appropriate  commem- 
oration, another  war,  more  mournful  in  its  incidents  and  results  than 
those  in  which  the  red  men  and  the  red-coats  had  participated,  was 
desolating  the  land. 

These  striking  centennial  coincidents  were  used  with  good  effect  Ijy 
the  orator  and  poet,  the  Honorable  William  W.  Crapo,  now  member 
of  Congress,  and  James  B.  Congdon.  The  address  of  Mr.  Crapo  is  a 
model  in  its  selections,  its  arrangement,  and  its  pure  and  eloquent 
diction.  In  addition  to  the  incidents  of  which  we  have  spoken,  the 
speaker  presents,  in  a  just  and  forcible  manner,  the  history  of  the 
controversy  between  the  town  of  Dartmouth  and  the  Plymouth  au- 
thorities in  relation  to  the  support  of  an  Orthodox  ministry.  The 
conflict  was  long  and  bitter,  culminating,  on  this  side  of  the  water,  in 
the  imprisonment  by  the  Pi'ovince  Rulers  of  the  selectmen  who  had 
refused  to  obey  the  mandate  of  the  Court.  But  the  Baptists  and 
Quakers  of  Dartmouth  and  Tiverton  triumphed.  An  order  of  the 
King  in  council  set  the  prisoners  free  and  nullified  the  tax. 

The  poem  of  Mr.  Congdon  presents  in  a  simple  but  pleasing  manner 
the  three  centennial  epochs.  The  presence  of  Major  Andre  at  the  raid 
upon  Bedford,  as  a  member  of  the  staft'  of  General  Grey,  is  an  incident 
which  the  writer  has  used  with  good  effect. 

The  account  of  the  "  Old  Dartmouth  Centennial,  September  14, 
18G4,"  makes  a  volume  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  pages.  It  contains 
much  matter  of  local  and  permanent  interest  beside  that  of  which  we 


128  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

have  made  mention.     We  have  space  for  the  mention  of  two  only  of 
the  many  items  of  this  valuable  compilation. 

The  address  of  Governor  Clifford,  who  was  present  in  the  double 
capacity  of  citizen  and  representative  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical 
Society,  possesses  at  this  time  a  peculiar  interest  as  being  the  last 
ever  made  by  him  at  a  public  meeting  of  his  fellow-citizens.  Often  in 
that  hall  and  from  that  platform  had  he  spoken,  with  a  felicity  of  dic- 
tion, a  grace  of  manner,  and  power  of  expression  seldom  equalled  in 
our  state  or  country.  But  he  never  came  nearer  to  the  hearts  of  our 
people  than  he  did  on  this  occasion,  when, 'with  that  beauty  of  speech 
and  that  ease  and  grace  of  manner  so  peculiarly  his  own,  he  spoke  of 
the  noticeable  incidents  of  our  local  history.  We  have  never  forgot- 
ten, and  we  love  now  more  than  ever  to  remember,  the  outburst  of 
applause  which  followed  this  delightful  effort  of  impromptu  oratory. 

The  old  Borough  of  Dartmouth,  England,  the  fishing  community  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Dart,  gave  our  old  Dartruouth  its  name.  Many  in- 
cidents connected  with  its  name  and  history  made  this  ancient  borough, 
whose  franchise  dates  back  to  the  reign  of  Richard  Coeur  de  Leon, 
closely  associated  with  the  commemorative  exercises. 

An  address  "To  the  Mayor,  llecorder  and  Aldermen  of  the  City  of 
Dartmouth,  County  of  Devon,  England,"  had  been  prepared,  and  Avas 
read  to  the  meeting.  Having  been  signed  by  the  Mayor,  Aldermen, 
Common  Councilmen,  and  Clerk  of  the  city  of  New  Bedford,  and  by 
the  Selectmen  and  Town  Clerks  of  the  towns  uniting  in  the  celebra- 
tion, and  beautifully  engrossed,  it  was  sent  to  its  destination. 

The  time  required  by  its  engrossment,  and  to  obtain  the  large  num- 
ber of  necessary  signatures  of  persons  dwelling  widely  apart,  brought 
the  end  of  the  year  before  it  could  be  forwarded. 

It  was  not  until  Washington's  Birtuday,  18G6,  that  the  Mayor  of 
the  city  received  a  response  to  this  greeting  from  the  old  Dartmouth 
of  America  to  the  old  Dartmouth  of  Great  Britain.  But  when  it  was 
received  the  delay  was  not  cared  for  or  thought  of.  The  reply  was 
dated  on  the  "Fourth  of  July,"  1865,  was  signed  by  the  Mayor,  lle- 
corder. Clerk,  and  Burgesses  of  the  Borough  of  Clifton  Dartmouth 
Hardness,  in  the  County  of  Devon,  England.  One  of  the  councillors 
bears  the  significant  name  of  John  Bully.  It  is  a  well  written  docu- 
ment, and  its  tone  is  kind  and  manly.  In  these  respects  it  fully  met 
the  circumstances  of  the  occasion  and  the  wishes  and  expectations  of 
those  to  whose  greeting  it  was  an  answer.  But  the  form  in  which  it 
appeared  was  a  surprise  and  a  delight.  Its  elegant  chii'ography  upon 
vellum  is  a  picture  in  itself;  and  this,  with  its  beautiful  illuminations 
of  border  and  other  chaste  ornamentation,  give  the  whole  a  rare,  rich, 
and  attractive  appearance. 

The  seal  of  the  city,  which  occupies  a  central  position  upon  the 
parchment,  and  is  one  of  its  chief  ornaments,  tells  most  significantly 


APPENDIX.  129 

the  story  that  Richard  I  of  England  conferred  the  franchise  upon 
the  borough.  Richard's  fleet  made  a  rendezvous  in  the  harbor  of  Dart- 
mouth as  he  was  about  to  embark  upon  his  crusade  to  the  Holy  Land. 
Upon  the  seal,  Richard's  ship  rests  upon  the  waters,  and  the  King  with 
crown  and  sceptre  is  the  occupant.  Two  stars,  one  on  each  side  of 
the  King,  may  be  emblems  of  the  two  mighty  men  who  were  about  to 
contend  for  the  possession  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre  or  of  their  respective 
faiths. 

Such  a  missive  called  for  a  fitting  frame.  Our  neighbors  of  Dart- 
mouth provided  a  log  of  well  seasoned  and  finely  grained  white-oak, 
and  the  taste  of  a  New  Bedford  artist  and  artisan  wrought  from  it  a 
frame  in  no  way  uuworthy  of  this  beautiful  production  of  our  trans- 
atlantic brethren.  It  hangs  in  the  trustees'  room  of  the  library,  and 
forms  its  most  attractive  ornament.  All  the  documents  connected 
with  this  pleasant  and  interesting  interchange  of  courtesies  will  be 
found  in  the  fifteenth  annual  Report. 

The  Catalogue,  which  embraces  all  the  books  of  the  library  up  to 
March,  1874,  is  in  three  volumes.  The  last,  which  is  the  second  Sup- 
plement, has  just  been  published.  The  first  was  printed  in  1858,  and 
contains  355  pages;  the  first  Supplement  in  18G9,  315.  The  second 
Supplement  just  printed  has  472,  making  in  all  eleven  hundred  and 
forty-two  pages. 

The  labor  of  preparing  these  volumes  and  carrying  them  through 
the  press  has  all  been  performed  by  the  accomplished  librarian,  Robert 
C.  Ingraham.  They  constitute  a  monument  of  his  zeal,  intelligence, 
and  industry. 

Since  January,  1874,  eight  Quarterly  Bulletins  have  been  published, 
which  embrace  all  the  books  added  to  the  library  from  that  date  to 
December,  1875.  These  will  be  continued.  In  addition  to  this,  as 
often  as  a  sufficient  number  of  books  is  purchased,  generally  once  a 
month,  they  are  advertised,  by  a  brief  title,  in  the  daily  newspapers. 

The  following  summary  statement,  which  was  prepared  for  publica- 
tion before  the  preceding  pages  were  written,  will  furnish  an  appro- 
priate close  to  our  brief  history  of  the  New  Bedford  Free  Public 
Library. 

NEW   BEDFORD  FREE   PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

Established  by  City  Council  August  9th,  1852,  under  the  law  of  the 
Commonwealth  enacted  May  24th,  1851. 

Opened  for  the  delivery  of  books  March  3d,  1853. 

Free  to  all  inhabitants  of  the  city. 

Number  of  volumes  when  opened, 5,200 

Of  Social  Library, 5,003 

Purchased, 200 

Q 


130  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Library  building  erected  by  the  city  1856,  at  a  cost  of    .  .  ,  $40,000 

Annual  expenditure, $7,000  . 

Annual  appropriations  by  the  city,  and  expenses  paid  by  same,  3,844 

Income  from  trust  funds 3,156 

The  income  from  trust  funds  is  all  expended  for  books. 

Catalogue,  1st  vol.,  1858;  2d,  1869;  3d,  1876.  Quarterly  Bulletins 
of  accessions  from  January  1st,  1874.  Accessions  published  in  two 
newspapers. 

Number  of  volumes,  January  1,  1876, 33,000 

All  in  the  English  language  but  about 200 

Number  of  pamphlets, 6,000 

Number  of  periodicals, 100 

Number  of  newspapers, .• 18 

Volumes  taken  from  the  library  in  1875, 65,771 

Officers : 
Nine  trustees,  three  ex-offlcii;  six  chosen  by  City  Council,  each  for 

three  years. 
Superintendent. 

Librarian,  salary, .-  . $2,000 

Two  assistant  librarians,  (female,)  salary  of  each 400 

Open,  Sundays  and  legal  holidays  excepted,  every  day,  from  9 
o'clock  A.  M.  to  9  o'clock  p.  m.,  with  one  interval  of  ttoo  hours  and  one 
of  one  hour. 


XXIII. 

NEW  BEDFORD   IN   THE  WAR. 

[From  "  History  of  Massachusetts  in  the  Civil  War,"  by  William 
Schouler,  late  Adjutant-General  of  the  Commonwealth. 
This  article  was  written  by  a  citizen  of  New  Bedford.] 

New  Bedford. — Incorporated  as  a  town  Feb.  23,  1787;  as  a  city, 
March  9,  1847.  Population  in  1860,  22,300;  in  1865,  20,863.  Valuation 
in  1860,  $24,196,138;  in  1865,  $20,525,790.* 

*  This  great  diminution  in  valuation  was  tlie  effect  of  Uie  war  upon  the  whaling 
inter«st. 


APPENDIX.  131 

In  18G1,  Isaac  C.  Taber,  mayor;  Warren  Ladd,  James  L.  Humphrey, 
Nathan  Lewis,  John  P.  Barker,  Matthew  Howland,  William  H.  Rey- 
nard, aldermen. 

In  18G2,  Isaac  C.  Taber,  mayor;  Warren  Ladd,  Bethuel  Penniman, 
Jr.,  Nathan  Lewis,  John  P.  Barker,  Matthew  Howland,  William  H. 
Reynard,  aldermen. 

In  18G3,  George  Howland,  Jr.,  mayor;  Warren  Ladd,  George  G.  Gif- 
ford,  Ambrose  Vincent,  John  P.  Barker,  Matthew  Howland,  John  H. 
Perry,  aldermen. 

In  1864,  George  Howland,  Jr.,  mayor;  Warren  Ladd,  George  G.  Gif- 
ford,  Ambrose  Vincent,  John  P.  Barker,  Matthew  Howland,  John  H. 
Perry,  aldermen. 

In  1865,  George  Howland,  Jr.,  mayor;  Warren  Ladd,  George  G.  Gif- 
ford,  Joseph  Knowles,  George  F.  Kingman,  Matthew  Howland,  John 
H.  Perry,  aldermen. 

The  city  clerk  in  1861  and  1862  was  Sanford  S.  Horton;  in  1863, 
180-lr,  and  1865,  Henry  T.  Leonard.  The  city  treasurer  during  all  the 
years  of  the  war  was  James  B.  Congdon. 

1861,  April  19th.  Five  thousand  dollars  was  appropriated  for  the 
benefit  of  the  "  City  Guards,"  to  be  expended  under  the  direction  of 
the  mayor  and  a  committee  of  the  city  council.  Ten  thousand  were 
appropriated  for  the  formation  of  a  Home  and  Coast  Guard.  [See 
Thomas  R.  Rodman.]  The  American  flag  was  ordered  to  be  displayed 
from  the  City  Hall  until  otherwise  ordered. 

July  15th.  A  report  was  received,  showing  that  Fort  Phoenix  in 
Fairhaven,  and  Fort  Taber  in  New  Bedford,  mounting  eleven  guns, 
had  been  manned  by  the  Home  Guard,  and  recommending  an  additional 
appropriation  to  maintain  the  same  ;  and  on  the  29th  of  July  five  thou- 
sami  dollars  was  appropriated. 

September  5th.  The  mayor  was  authorized  to  organize  one  or  more 
companies  "  for  the  national  army,"  the  bounty  to  each  member  not 
to  exceed  fifteen  dollars. 

November  20th.  Fifteen  hundred  dollars  was  appropriated  for  State 
aid  to  soldiers'  families. 

December  15th.  Five  thousand  dollars  was  appropriated  for  the 
payment  of  soldiers'  bounties. 

1862,  January  3d.  A  report  was  made  that  three  companies  of  vol- 
unteers for  three  years'  military  service  had  been  organized. 

January  4th.  This  being  the  close  of  the  municipal  year,  a  report 
and  resolution  complimentary  of  the  outgoing  mayor,  Hon.  Isaac  C. 
Taber,  were  unanimously  adopted. 

July  lOih.  Seven  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  was  appropriated 
to  establish  a  General  Hospital  for  sick  and  wounded  soldiers,  pro- 
vided the  General  Government  should  "  decide  to  locate  one  in  this 
city." 


132  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Voted,  To  pay  a  bounty  of  one  hundred  dollars  to  each  volunteer 
who  enlists  for  three  yeai-s'  military  service,  to  the  credit  of  the  city. 
Twenty-six  thousand  dollars  was  appropriated  to  pay  the  same.  The 
use  of  the  spacious  City  Alms  House,  capable  of  accommodating  three 
hundred  sick  and  wounded  soldiers,  was  offered  to  the  Genei'al  Gov- 
ernment, which  offer  was  respectfully  declined. 

August  18th.  The  bounty  to  volunteers  was  increased  to  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars ;  and  twenty  thousand  dollars  was  appropriated 
to  pay  the  same. 

August  29th.  "Voted,  To  pay  a  bounty  of  two  hundred  dollars  to 
each  volunteer  for  nine  months'  service.  Twenty-five  thousand  dol- 
lars was  appropriated  to  pay  said  bounties. 

October  21st.  A  farther  appropriation  of  five  thousand  dollars  was 
made  for  the  Home  and  Coast  Guard,  and  twenty  thousand  for  military 
bounties,  which,  on  the  13th  of  December,  was  increased  by  a  loan  of 
twenty-six  thousand  dollars. 

1863,  February  26th.  The  city  council  adjourned  "for  the  purpose  of 
paying  their  respects  to  Governor  Andrew  and  General  Wool  at  the 
city  hall." 

March  ith.  State  aid  was  directed  to  be  paid  to  the  families  "  of  col- 
ored citizens  who  shall  be  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States." 

April  9th.  Two  hundred  dollars  was  authorized  to  be  expended  on 
the  enlistment  of  a  company  of  heavy  artillery,  which,  on  the  21st  of 
May,  was  increased  to  one  thousand  dollars. 

July  15th.  "  A  watchman  was  discharged  for  using  seditious  lan- 
guage." 

July  30th.  State  aid'  was  directed  to  be  paid  to  the  families  of 
drafted  men.  "  Ordered,  That  the  bell  be  rung  and  a  salute  fired  on 
the  day  of  the  Public  Thanksgiving  on  the  6th  of  August." 

September  21st.  The  treasurer  was  directed  to  pay  the  treasurer 
of  the  Commonwealth  $15,450.68,  "  under  the  laws  in  relation  to  the 
reimbursement  of  bounties." 

1864,  November  17th.  Voted,  That  the  full  taxes  of  the  returned 
soldiers  belonging  to  New  Bedford  be  remitted. 

1865,  January  7th.  Appropriate  resolutions  were  passed  in  regard 
to  the  death  of  Hon.  Edward  Everett,  and  ex-Gov.  John  H.  Clifford 
was  invited  to  deliver  a  eulogy  on  the  life  and  character  of  the  de- 
ceased. 

February  7th.  The  mayor  recommended  the  ringing  of  the  bells 
and  the  firing  of  one  hundred  guns  in  honor  of  President  Lincoln 
signing  the  emancipation  proclamation. 

April  10th.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  make  arrangements  to 
celebrate  the  fall  of  Richmond  and  the  surrender  of  General  Lee. 

April  15th.    A  message  was  received  from  the  mayor  making  an 


APPENDIX.  133 

official  announcement  of  the  death  of  President  Lincoln,  and  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  consider  and  report  upon  the  proper  measures 
to  be  taken  in  regard  to  it.  The  committee  reported  a  series  of  appro- 
priate resolutions,  which  were  adopted.* 

Jane  22.  Alderman  Giflford  presented  to  the  council  a  rebel  flag 
captured  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  Feb.  ISth,  1865,  and  sent  to  him  by 
Captain  James  W.  Grace,  of  Company  C,  Fifty-fourth  Regiment  Mas- 
sachusetts Volunteers  (colored.) 

New  Bedford  furnished  about  thirty-tico  hundred  men  for  the  war, 
which  was  a  surplus  of  eleven  hundred  and  ten  men  over  and  above  all 
demands. t 

One  hundred  and  twenty  were  officers  in  the  military  service.  We 
do  not  know  the  number  who  served  in  the  navy.  The  whole  amount 
of  money  appropriated  and  expended  on  account  of  the  war,  exclusive 
of  State  aid,  was  one  hundred  and  seventy-seven  thousand  dollars. 

The  amount  of  money  appropriated  and  expended  by  the  city  during 
the  four  years  of  the  war  for  State  aid  to  the  families  of  volunteers, 
and  which  was  afterwards  refunded  by  the  Commonwealth,  was  as 

*  The  following  are  the  proceedings  of  the  City  Council  on  the  occasion  of  the  death 
of  President  Lincoln.  As  far  as  is  known,  the  resolutions  which  follow  were  the 
first  adopted  by  any  municipal  body  in  relation  to  that  mournful  event. 

In  Committek,  April  l.ith,  186.5. 
Tlie  committee  appointed  to  consider  of  and  report  what  action  it  will  be  proper 
for  the  Council  to  take  in  relation  to  the  communication  of  the  Mayor  presentetl  at 
this  time,  have  attended  to  the  duty  assigned  them,  and  ask  leave  "to  report  the  ac- 
companying Preamble  and  Kesolutions. 

For  the  committee. 

W^UtKEX  L^VDD,  Chairman. 

Whereas,  It  has  Ijeen  pennitted  in  the  workings  of  a  mystei-ious  Pi-ovidence, 
that  Altraham  Lincoln,  the  President  of  the  United  States,  should  fall  by  the  hand  of 
an  assassin ;  and 

Whekpzas,  The  murderer's  dagger  has  sti-uck  down  William  H.  Seward,  the  Sec- 
retary of  State,  next  to  the  President  the  most  exalted  and  important  oflicer  of  the 
Government,  and  we  are  prepared  at  any  moment  to  hear  that  he  is  no  more :  there- 
fore, 

Resolved,  That  an  agony  of  sorrow  that  finds  no  relief  l)ut  in  the  deep  conviction 
that  the  Lord  God  Almiglfty  livelli  and  reigneth,  and  that  he  is  still  the  refuge  and 
sui)i)ort  of  his  people,  has  'taken  possession  of  our  souls  and  bows  us  down  to  the 
tlust  with  its  awful  and  overwhelming  reality. 

Iti'solred,  Tliat  in  view  of  the  exalted  virtues  and  eminent  public  services  of 
Abraham  Lincoln,  his  wisdom,  his  firmness,  his  unassuming  piety  and  unswerving 
adherence  to  the  great  principles  of  universal  liberty;  the  masterly  statesmanship 
and  inspiring  confidence  which  he  has  exhibited  during  the  fearful  struggle  in  which 
our  country  has  been  engaged,  and  which  with  the  help  of  God  and  a  ilevoted  people 
he  had  brought  so  near  to  a  triumi)hal  termination;  we  deplore  with  intensity  of 
emotion,  which  finds  no  language  for  its  adequate  expression,  the  loss  of  this  great 
and  good  man,  of  this  faithful  and  devoted  public  servant. 

Resolved,  That  while  waj  bow  submissively  before  the  Sovereign  Disposer  of 
events  and  seek  with  this  great  calamitv  ujioh  us  for  the  consolation  which  flows 
from  the  conviction  that  "  he  doclh  all  tfiingswell";  while  we  weep  manly  tears  at 
the  loss  of  our  greatest  public  benefact-or,  of  our  dearly  lxdove<l  and  venerated  chief 
magistrate,  and  are  deeply  apprehensive  that  soon  the  ti<lings  will  reach  us  that  the 
girted  and  faithful  Sewanf  has  shared  his  fate;  we  will  nerve  our  hearts  and  our 
hands  to  meet  Hie  crisis  this  awful  event  has  brought  upon  our  country,  and  the  per- 
formance of  the  high  and  solemn  duties  which  as  men  and  as  citizens  of  tlie  Unite<l 
suites  now  devolve  upon  us. 

fThis  large  surplus  was  mainly  owing  to  the  act  of  Congress  passed  July,  18fi4, 
allowing  credits  for  men  serving  in  the  United  States  Navy. 


134  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

follows:  In  1861,  $5,091.52;  in  1862,  $25,257.29;  in  1863,  $40,146.04; 
in  1864,  §36,500;  in  1865,  $18,500.  Total  amount  in  four  years,  $125,- 
495.85. 

The  Ladies'  Soldiers'  Relief  Society  donated  for  tlie  relief  of  the 
soldiers  upwards  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  in  money ;  in  cotton 
cloth  and  flannel,  four  thousand  dollars ;  and  in  hospital  stores  to  the 
value  of  six  thousand  dollars.  The  following  are  some  of  the  articles 
contributed :  Condensed  milk,  preserved  fruits,  jellies  and  pickles, 
farina,  maizena,  tamarinds,  lemons,  dried  apples,  tea,  coffee,  cocoa; 
1116  bottles  of  wine,  consisting  of  sherry,  currant,  blackberry,  and 
native  wines;  423  bottles  of  brandy;  1130  bottles  of  blackberry  brandy 
and  syrups;  345  bottles  of  Port  wine;  large  contributions  for  the 
Thanksgiving  dinner  and  Christmas  trees  at  Portsmouth  Grove  Hos- 
pital, besides  bushels  of  lint  and  bandages.  "The  Society  for  the 
Comfort  and  Relief  of  our  Soldiers  in  Hospitals  "  furnished,  among 
other  things,  5904  flannel  shirts,  3887  pairs  of  drawers,  4573  woollen 
socks,  1790  towels,  94  coats,  76  vests,  120  collars,  1000  handkerchiefs, 
368  cravats,  314  dressing-gowns,  1836  pocket-handkerchiefs,  300  pants, 
148  napkins,  078  pairs  slippers,  265  woollen  mittens,  542  blankets,  515 
sheets,  673  pillows,  750  quilts,  988  canes,  1280  woollen  undershirts,  &c. 

The  contributions  named  above  are  certainly  remarkable,  but  we 
have  to  add  that  the  ladies  of  New  Bedford  began  early  in  the  war. 
They  held  a  meeting  on  the  18th  of  April,  1861,  and  organized  for  the 
work.  Mrs.  Joseph  C.  Delano  was  chosen  president,  Mrs.  Lawrence 
Grinnell  vice-president,  and  Mrs.  William  Eddy  secretary  and  treas- 
urer. In  addition  to  the  above  contributions,  five  hundred  dollars 
were  given  by  a  lady  to  pay  soldiers'  wives  for  sewing.  They  also 
sent  contributions  to  the  St.  Louis  and  Baltimore  Soldiers'  Fairs,  and 
furnished  tables  at  the  New  York  and  Boston  Fairs. 


APPENDIX.  135 

XXIV. 

SOLDIERS'   AND   SAILORS'   MONUMENT. 

The  monument  erected  by  the  city  of  New  Bedford  in  memory  of 
her  citizens  who  perished  in  the  rebellion  occupies  a  prominent  situ- 
ation upon  the  common. 

It  is  a  beautiful  and  appropriate  structure.  Of  the  many  erections 
of  this  character  that  the  gratitude  of  the  living  has  raised  to  com- 
memorate the  patriotism  of  the  dead,  few  can  be  found  more  taste- 
ful and  appropriate  in  design,  or  more  perfect  in  execution. 

The  monument  was  designed  and  contracted  for  by  George  F. 
Meacham,  of  Boston. 

The  inscriptions  upon  the  base  are  as  follows  : 

NOBTU  SIDE. 

Navy. 

EAST  SIDE. 

Erected  by  tlie  City  of  Xc\v  Bedford,  as  a  tribute  of  gi-atitudc  to  her  sons  who  fell 
defending  their  Country  in  its  struggle  with  Slaveiy  and  Treason. 

SOUTH  SIDE. 

Anny. 

WEST  SIDE. 

Dedicated  July  4th,  1866. 

The  citizens  will  be  interested  in  the  following  report  of  the  com- 
mittee of  the  City  Council  charged  with  the  erection  of  the  monu- 
ment. 

"  Citg  of  Ncbj  33ciiEorto. 

"In  Committee,  Jan.  5th,  1867. 
"  The  Joint  Special  Committee  to  whom  was  intrusted  the  duty  of 
superintending  the  completion  of  the  monument  contracted  for  by  the 
last  city  government,  beg  leave  to  submit  the  following 

REPORT. 

"  The  corner  stone  was  laid  on  the  4th  of  July  last,  but  the  work 
was  delayed  longer  than  was  anticipated,  owing  to  the  difficulties  ex- 
perienced in  quarrying  suitable  stone,  and  the  slow  and  tedious  process 
of  cutting  the  inscriptions.  Subsequently,  upon  notice  from  the  con- 
tractor, in  conformity  with  the  provisions  of  the  contract,  your  com- 
mittee inspected  the  work  at  the  yard  of  Mr.  Sheldon,  the  sub-con- 
tractor, at  Concord,  N.  H.,  and  approved  the  character  and  quality  of 
the  work  so  far  as  it  was  then  completed.  The  stone  is  of  the  finest 
Concord  granite,  free  from  the  presence  of  particles  of  iron,  while  the 
character  of  the  work  is  much  superior  to  that  contracted  for  and  sur- 
passing our  expectations.  Aside  from  the  delay  in  the  work,  your 
committee  are  fully  satisfied  with  the  performance  of  the  contract. 


13(3  CENTENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

"The  laying  of  the  corner  stone  presented  a  favorable  opportunity 
for  transmitting  to  posterity  in  the  least  perishable  form  the  facts  of 
Interest  connected  with  the  history  of  the  monument,  and  the  names 
and  portraits  of  some  of  those  who  have  become  distinguished  during 
the  war,  together  with  the  names  of  those  of  our  citizens  who  have 
fallen  in  defence  of  our  free  institutions,  and  sealed  their  devotion  to 
their  country  with  their  lives. 

"Your  committee  accordingly  caused  a  sketch  to  be  prepared  from 
the  records  of  the  city  government,  shoAving  its  action  with  reference 
to  the  subject,  which  was  deposited  in  the  corner  stone  with  the  news- 
papers of  that  date,  city  documents,  photographs  of  our  most  distin- 
guished generals,  and  a  complete  roll,  so  far  as  the  same  could  be 
obtained,  of  our  patriot  dead. 

"In  this  duty  of  collecting  the  names  of  those  whose  virtues  are 
commemorated  in  the  sculptured  stone,  we  have  been  materially  as- 
sisted by  the  careful  research  and  industry  of  James  B.  Congdon,  Esq., 
whose  interest  has  been  continuous  in  every  eft'ort  to  honor  valor  and 
patriotic  heroism. 

"These  names  are  the  heirlooms  of  our  citizens,  and  the  humblest 
among  them  should  not  be  forgotten.  A  duplicate  copy  of  his  '  Roll 
of  Honor'  we  herewith  transmit,  that  it  may  be  preserved  for  future 
reference. 

"The  appropriations  made  by  the  city  for  the  purpose  of  the  monu- 
ment have  been  thirteen  thousand  three  hundred  dollars.  Of  this  sum 
there  has  been  paid  to  George  F.  Meacham,  Esq.,  according  to  contract 
for  the  monument,  $8,919.50,  which  includes  the  sum  of  $354.50  for 
cutting  the  inscriptions.  The  incidental  expenses,  including  removal 
of  flagstaff,  excavation  and  removal  of  soil,  extra  foundation,  prepara- 
tion of  roll,  surveying,  and  expenses  of  committee,  amount  to  $357.70. 

"  Your  committee  have  also  entered  into  contracts  with  George  F. 
Meacham,  as  follows :  For  fence  of  bronze  for  $1496,  and  for  stone 
curbing  under  the  same  for  $1960;  and  with  Charles  Taber  &  Co.  for 
incidentals,  $25 ;  thus  leaving  a  balance  of  the  appropriation  yet  unex- 
pended or  subject  to  contract,  the  sum  of  $541.80. 

"  This  sum  remains  to  defray  the  expense  of  filling  around  the  mon- 
ument and  of  grading  the  walks,  and  can  as  well  be  expended  under 
the  direction  of  the  next  city  government. 

"  The  duty  assigned  to  your  committee  has  been  as  arduous  as  it 
has  been  honorable,  but  it  is  with  feelings  of  personal  gratification 
that  they  deliver  into  your  hands  this  beautiful  monument  of  the  he- 
roism of  our  departed  soldiers  and  sailors,  and  of  the  taste  and  mu- 
nificence of  our  fellow-citizens,  who  but  feebly  express  their  gratitude 
in  its  erection.  It  speaks  through  its  enduring  emblems  and  its  in- 
scriptions, its  utterances  of  patriotic  devotion  to  our  common  country, 
while  it  recalls  the  sad  tales  of  the  battle,  the  hospital  and  the  prison. 


APPENDIX.  137 

It  reminds  us  of  our  duty  to  the  living  representatives  of  those  who 
have  gone  from  the  field  of  strife  to  their  long  rest,  and  imposes  upon 
us  the  duty  of  benevolent  care  for  the  widow  and  the  orphan  of  the 
heroic  dead. 

"  Our  duty  does  not  terminate  with  its  erection.  Those  who  sur- 
vive should  feel'the  gratitude  of  a  generous  communit}',  not  alone  in 
granite  memorials  to  their  comrades,  but  in  such  constant  recognition 
of  the  value  of  those  services  as  shall  encourage  patriotism  and  incul- 
cate in  coming  generations  the  principle  instilled  into  us  by  our 
fathers.* 

*' '  Dulce  et  decorum  est  pro  patria  raori.' 

"  For  the  committee. 

JOSEPH  KNOWLES,  Chairman." 


XXV. 
ROLL   OF   HONOR. 

THE  NEW  BEDFORD  ROLL  OF  HONOR, 

Containing  the  names  of  the  Volunteers  in  the  Army  and  Navy  who 
died  in  the  service  of  the  Country  during  the  Great  Rebellion. 

PREPAUKD   BY   ORDER   OF   THE   CITY   COUNCIL,   MAY,    18C9. 

[This  record  was  prepared  under  the  direction  of  a  Joint  Special 
Committee  of  the  City  Council,  appointed  to  consider  the  subject  of  a 
Memorial  Tablet  for  the  names  of  the  New  Bedford  Volunteers 
who  died  in  the  service  of  the  country  during  the  Great  Rebellion.] 

*  At  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  an  ailtlress  was  delivered  by  the  Kev.  Alonzo  II. 
Quint,  and  a  poem  by  James  B.  Congdon,  both  of  which  were  printed. 

The  Roll  of  Honor  which  follows  is  a  copy  of  the  con-ected  roll  prepared  in  1869 
by  order  of  the  City  Council,  the  manuscript  of  which,  carefully  and  beautifully 
bound,  is  deposited  in  the  ai-chivea  of  the  city, 

R 


138  CENTENNIAL   CELEBRATION. 


SOLDIERS. 

Akin,  Charles  R.,  Musician,  4th  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  B.  Died  of  dis- 
ease February  10,  1865,  at  Fortress  Monroe. 

Aliin,  James  F.,  13th  battery.     Died  in  Chesapeaiie  Hospital,  Hampton, 

Va.,  November  12,  1863. 
•Albro,  James  H.,  2d  regiment  heavy  artillery,  Co.  E.     Died  of  fever 
in  Newbern,  N.  C,  October  8,  1864. 

Aldrich,  Albert  J.,  Corporal,  30th  regiment,  Co.  D.  Died  in  camp 
opposite  Vicksburg,  July  19,  1862. 

Allen,  Frederick  S.,  Corporal,  20th  regiment,  Co.  G.  Died  October  25, 
1862,  of  wounds  received  at  Antietam.  Grave  at  Linden  Grove 
Cemetery,  "Westport. 

Andrews,  Frank,  18th  regiment,  Co.  A.  Died  at  United  States  Gen- 
eral Hospital  at  Windmill  Point,  Va.,  February  10,  1863. 

Baker,  Charles  G.,  1st  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  K.  Died  at  home  Sep- 
tember 4,  18G2,  two  months  after  being  discharged.  Grave  in  Rural 
Cemetery. 

Barry,  William  (of  Rochester?)  18th  regiment,  Co.  C.  Killed  at  Rap- 
pahannock Station,  November  7,  1863. 

Bartlett,  John  E.,  1st  Rhode  Island  regiment,  Co.  F.  Died  at  Beau- 
fort, N.  C,  June  29,  1862. 

Bean,  John  C,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  C.  Died  at  Baton  Rouge,  La., 
July  5,  1863. 

Bearse,  Zachariah  T.,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  I.  Died  at  home, 
August  9,  1864.     Grave  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 

Bentley,  William,  38th  regiment,  Co.  H.  Died  at  New  Orleans,  La., 
June  4,  1863. 

Blain,  Samuel  J.,  First  Lieutenant,  —  regiment  U.  S.  colored  troops. 
Died  at  Florence,  S.  C,  about  November  1,  1864. 

Blake,  Luthan,  18th  regiment,  Co.  A.  Killed  at  battle  of  Fredericks- 
burg, December  13,  1862.     Monument  in  West  Cemetery. 

Blake,  Peleg  W.,  First  Lieutenant,  5th  battery.  Killed  near  Peters- 
burg, June  18,  1864.     Grave  in  West  Cemetery. 

Blood,  Thompson  B.  (of  Chelsea?)  18th  regiment,  Co.  A.  Died  in 
rebel  prison  at  Andersonville,  March  24,  1864. 

Bly,  Joseph  H.,  38th  regiment,  Co.  H.  Died  at  Saterlee  Hospital, 
Philadelphia,  November  10,  1864,  of  wounds  received  at  Cedar  Creek, 
October  19,  1864.     Buried  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 

Booth,  Charles  R.,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  A.  Died  at  Port  Hud- 
son, La.,  of  wounds,  Dec.  2,  1863.     Grave  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 

Booth,  George  F.,  18th  regiment,  Co.  A.  Died  at  Hall's  Hill,  near 
Washington,  January  4,  1862. 

Booth,  John  C,  32d  regiment,  Co.  C.  Died  in  prison  at  Richmond, 
Va.,  December  4,  1863. 


APPENDIX.  139 

Borden,  Abraham  E.,  U.  S.  signal  corps.  Died  on  board  gunboat  Sa- 
chem, September  8,  18G3.     Grave  in  Rural  Cemetery. 

Borden,  Daniel  W.,-20th  regiment,  Co.  D.  Killed  December  13,  1862, 
at  Fredericksburg,  Va. 

Bosworth,  Henry  L.,  Jr.,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  C.  Killed  near 
Winchester,  Va.,  September  19, 1864:.  Grave  in  Riverside  Cemeterj', 
Fairhaven. 

Boyd,  Edward,  18th  regiment,  Co.  A.  Died  at  Andersonville,  Novem- 
ber 14,  18G4. 

Briggs,  Augustus  D.,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  A.  Died  in  Camden 
Street  Hospital,  Baltimore,  November  14,  1864,  of  wounds  received 
at  Cedar  Creek. 

Briggs,  Obed  N.,  Corporal,  23d  regiment,  Co.  D.  Killed  at  Cold  Har- 
bor, June  3,  1864. 

Brockdon  (Beckdon  on  official  list,)  John  F.,  5th  regiment  cavalry, 
Co.  D.     Died  on  board  transport  J.  K.  Barnes,  Sept.  22,  1865. 

Brown,  Charles  A.,  alias  Charles  Besse  (of  Truto?)  20th  regiment, 
Co.  A.     Died  at  Danville  prison,  December  7,  1864. 

Brown,  George  H.,  32d  regiment,-  Co.  H.  Died  at  Richmond,  Va., 
February  13,  1864. 

Brown,  John  C,  Captain,  73d  regiment  U.  S.  colored  infantry,  Co.  G. 
Died  on  battlefield  at  Blakely,  Ala.,  of  wounds  received  while  as- 
saulting the  .enemy's  works,  April  10,  1S65. 

Bryant,  John,  •18th  regiment,  Co.  A.  Killed  at  battle  of  Fredericks- 
burg, December  13,  1862. 

Bryant,  William  F.  (of  Rochester?)  38th  regiment,  Co.  H.  Died  at 
Baton  Rouge,  September  30,  1863, 

Buchanan,  James  H.,  Corporal,  54th  regiment,  Co.  C.  Killed  at 
Olustee,  Fla.,  February  20,  1864. 

Burke,  Thomas,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  L.  Died  at  Baton  Rouge, 
La.,  July  2,  1863. 

Campbell,  Joseph  R.,  Corporal,  54th  regiment,  Co.  C.  Killed  at  Fort 
Wagner,  July  18,  1863. 

Canty,  John  M.,  5th  battery.  Died  July  8,  1863,  of  wounds  received 
at  Gettysburg.     Buried  July  29th,  1863,  in  Catholic  Cemetery. 

Carroll,  Patrick,  Corporal,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  A.  Died  at  Wash- 
ington, August  6,  1864.     Grave  in  Catholic  Cemetery. 

Cavenaugh,  Charles,  23d  regiment,  Co.  D.  Died  March  26,  1862,  of 
wounds  received  at  Newbern. 

Chapman,  Thomas  W.  (of  Acushnet?)  29th  regiment,  Co.  D.  Died  in 
Kentucky,  September  22,  1862. 

Chase,  Ezra  D.,  20th  regiment,  Co.  G.  Killed  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va., 
June  9,  1864. 

Chase,  William  T.,  3d  regiment  heavy  artillery,  Co.  F.  Died  at  Fort 
Wagner,  D.  C,  December  10,  1864.     Grave  in  Rural  Cemetery. 


140  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Christian,  Stephen  C,  Corporal,  o8th  regiment,  Co.  E.  Killed  before 
Petersburg,  June  17,  1864.  Buried  November  27,  1864,  in  Oak  Grove 
Cemetery. 

Clark,  Johnson,  Assistant  Surgeon,  99th  New  York  regiment.  Died 
December  9,  1861. 

Clough,  James,  Corporal,  7th  regiment,  Co.  A.  Died  in  Armory  Hos- 
pital, Washington,  June  18,  1863,  of  wounds  received  at  Fredericks- 
burg May  3,  1863. 

Coble,  Lewis  H.,  23d  regiment,  Co.  D.  Died  at  Newbern,  N.  C,  April 
U,  18G2. 

Coburn,  Harry  N.,  Hospital  Steward,  3d  regiment  cavalry.  Died  No- 
vember 4,  1863,  at  Port  Hudson. 

Cole,  Charles  B.,  Musician,  o5th  regiment,  Co.  B.  Died  December  20, 
1863,  at  Folly  Island,  S.  C. 

Conly,  Timothy,  28th  regiment,  Co.  B.  Killed  at  Antietam,  September 
17,  1862. 

Coombs,  Erastus  M.,  Corporal,  18th  regiment,  Co.  A.  Died  at  Har- 
rison's Lauding,  July  19,  1862. 

Corcoran  (Corkery  in  official  list,)  Timothy,  Sergeant,  28th  regiment, 
Co.  B.     Killed  in  battle  of  Chantilly,  September  1,  1862. 

Crane,  Charles  F.,  3d  regiment,  Co.  E.     Died  at  Newbern,  Jan.  29,  1863. 

Crapo,  Henry  D.,  5th  battery.  Killed  at  Bottom  Bridge,  Va.,  June  8, 
1864. 

Crapo,  Stephen  E.,  Corporal,  58th  regiment,  Co.  E.  Killed  near  Spott- 
sylvania  Court  House,  May  12,  1864.     Grave  iu  Rural  Cemetery. 

Davis,  William  F.  (quota  of  Lawrence.)  Died  at  Andersonville,  Ga., 
October  28,  1864. 

Denuison,  John,  9th  regiment,  Co.  C.  Died  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  November  7,  1863. 

Devoll,  Charles  F,,  13th  Illinois  regiment.  Died  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
June  2,  1864.     Grave  in  Rural  Cemetery. 

Dixon,  Charles,  55th  regiment,  Co.  D.  Died  at  Beaufort,  S.  C,  June 
16,  1865. 

Douglass,  Charles  B.,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  A.  Wounded  in  action. 
Plane's  Store,  La.,  November  29,  1863;  died  next  day. 

Downing,  Patrick,  2d  regiment  heavy  artillery,  Co.  E.  Died  at  New- 
bern, N.  C,  June  6,  1864. 

Dunham,  Amos  J.,  58th  regiment,  Co.  E.  Died  at  Annapolis,  October 
28,  1864.    Grave  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 

Dwyer,  Timothy,  28th  regiment,  Co.  H.  Killed  at  Fredericksburg, 
December  13,  1862. 

Eagan  (Akin  in  official  list,)  Alexander,  20th  regiment,  Co.  D.  Killed 
at  Gettysburg,  July  3,  1863.     Grave  in  Rural  Cemetery. 

Edson,  Lowell  M.,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  A.  Died  at  Baton  Rouge, 
July  28,  1863.     Grave  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 


APPENDIX.  141 

Elliott,  Joseph,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  C.  Killed  near  Alexandria, 
La.,  May  1,  18G4. 

Fitzsimnions,  Henry  (quota  of  Middleborough,)  58th  regiment,  Co.  K. 
Died  in  Baltic,  Conn.,  August,  18G7,  of  wounds  received  at  Peters- 
burg, Va.,  April  2,  1865,     Grave  in  Catholic  Cemetery. 

Flaherty,  John,  2d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  B.  Died  at  Fort  Ethan  Allen, 
August  30,  18G3. 

Fleetwood,  Lewis  A.,  54th  regiment,  Co.  C.  Wounded  at  Fort  Wag- 
ner, July  18,  18G3;  foot  amputated;  died  in  New  Bedford  after  dis- 
charge.    Grave  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 

Foster,  Daniel  O.,  Quartermaster-Sergeant,  4th  regiment  cavalry,  Co. 
B.     Died  at  Deer  Island,  April  20,  18G4. 

Garlick,  Keuben  A.  (of  Dartmouth:)  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  H. 
Killed  September  19,  1864,  at  battle  of  Winchester. 

Gibson,  Charles  H.,  Musician,  23d  regiment,  Co.  D.  Killed  on  board 
steamer  Fawn,  September  13,  18G4,  on  Roanoke  river. 

Gifford,  William  IL,  58th  regiment,  Co.  E.  Died  in  Danville  prison, 
August  14,  1864.     Grave  at  South  Dartmouth. 

Gilman,  Edward  G.,  1st  regiment  Maine  heavy  artillery.  Died  before 
Petersburg,  Va.,  December  15,  18G5. 

Gooding,  James  H.,  Sergeant,  54th  regiment,  Co.  C.  Wounded  and 
taken  prisoner  at  Olustee,  Fla.,  February  20,  1864;  died  at  Ander- 
sonville,  July  19,  1864. 

Gordon,  Thomas  (quota  of  Cambridge,)  28th  regiment,  Co.  D.  Re- 
ported missing  in  action,  May  18,  1864. 

Graham,  Edward.     Died  at  Andersonville,  October  5,  1864. 

Gray,  Franklin  S.,  58th  regiment,  Co.  E.  Killed  at  Cold  Harbor,  June 
3,  1864. 

Gray,  John  H.,  99th  New  York  regiment,  Co.  A.  Died  at  Yorktown, 
Va.,  October  2,  1863. 

Hall,  Joseph  L.,  54th  regiment,  Co.  C.  Missing  at  the  assault  on  Fort 
Wagner,  July  18,  1863. 

Hall,  Levi,  4th  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  C.  Killed  at  St.  John's  Island, 
July  17,  1864. 

Handley,  Herbert,  Sergeant,  20th  regiment,  Co.  G.  Killed  by  a  horse 
in  Providence,  September  8,  1861. 

Hart,  J.  B.  W.,  Jr.,  6th  company  heavy  artillery.  Died  at  Fort  Baker, 
D.  C,  September  4,  1864. 

Harvey,  George  W.,  Corporal,  33d  regiment,  Co.  I.  Died  at  Ander- 
sonville prison,  Ga.,  August  30,  1864. 

Hathaway,  John  F.,  5th  battery.  Died  July  14,  1863,  of  wounds  re- 
ceived at  Gettysburg.     Buried  in  West  Cemetery,  August  5,  1863. 

Hawes,  George  E.,  Corporal,  38th  regiment,  Co.  H.  Died  December 
14,  1862,  at  Hampton,  Va.     Grave  in  Rural  Cemetery. 


142  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Heilraan,  George,  16th  regiment,  Co.  11.     Died  at  Andersonville,  Ga., 

November  3,  1864. 
Heintz,  John  H.,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  A.     Died  at  Port  Hudson, 

October  1,  1863. 
Herron,  William  H.,  3d  New  Hampshire  regiment,  Co.  K.     Died  at 

Nashville,  May  24,  1865. 
Hill,  Henry,  First  Sergeant,  33d  regiment,  Co.  I.    Killed  at  Dallas, 

Ga.,  May  25,  1864. 
Hogan,  John,  28lh  regiment,  Co.  B.    Killed  at  Antietam,  September 

17,  1862. 
Holmes,  James,  38th  regiment,  Co.  H,    Died  at  Baton  Kouge,  October 

21,  1863. 
Howard,  George  H.,  6th  company  heavy  artillery.    Died  in  hospital  at 

New  Bedford,  October  24,  1863. 
Howard,  Hiram  B.,  20th  regiment,  Co.  D.     Killed  at  Gettysburg,  July 

3,  1863. 
Howland,  Charles  F.,  First  Sergeant,  41st  regiment,  Co.  A.    Died  at 

Baton  Rouge,  La.,  Feb.  19,  1863.     Buried  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 
Howland,  George  W.,  Captain,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  A.     Died  at 

home,  June  6,  1865  (discharged  April   11,   1865.)     Grave  in  Rural 

Cemetery. 
Howland,  Lothrop  P.,  33d  regiment,  Co.  I.    Killed  at  battle  of  Wau- 

hatchie,  October  29,  1863. 
Hussey,  Robert  B.,  58th  regiment,  Co.  E.     Died  at  Nantucket,  while 

on  furlough,  November  27,  1864. 
Jackson,  "William  S.,  5th  regimeiit  cavalry,  Co.  F.     Died  at  Clarksville, 

Texas,  July  15,  1865. 
Jenney,  Sanford,  Jr.,  Sergeant,  2d  regiment  heavy  artillery,  Co.  E. 

Died  at  Newbern,  N.  C,  May  4, 1864.     Buried  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 
Johnson,  Edward,  Sergeant,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  C.     Killed  in 

action  at  Alexandria,  La.,  May  1,  1864. 
Jones,  Charles,  Corporal,  18th  regiment,  Co.  H.    Died  in  New  Bed- 
ford, March  31,  1864. 
Joyner,  Robert  S.,  18th  regiment,  Co.  F.     Taken  prisoner  at  battle  of 

the  Wilderness,  May,  1864;  died  in  rebel  prison  at  Milieu,  Ga. 
Kanuse,  Benjamin  S.,  5th  battery.     Killed  before  Petersburg,  June  18, 

1864.     Buried  in  West  Cemetery. 
Keen,  David  S.,  29th  regiment,  Co.  D.     Died  at  Crab  Orchard,  Ky., 

October  19,  1863.     Grave  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 
Kempton,  Charles  G.,  38th  regiment,  Co.  H.    Died  at  University  Hos- 
pital, New  Orleans,  April  25,  1863. 
Kenney,  Silas  C,  Corporal,  38th  regiment,   Co.  H.     Killed  at  Port 

Hudson,  June  14,  1863. 
Killian,  Michael,  6th  company  heavy  artillery.    Died  at  Fort  Baker, 

Washington,  August  22,  1864. 


APPENDIX.  '  143 

King,  Leprelate,  4th  regiment,  Co.  K.     Difed  at  Brashear  City,  June 

II,  18G3. 
Kingman,  Henry  C.  (quota  of  Rochester,)  23d  regiment,  Co.  1).     Died 

in  Libby  prison,  Kichmond,  Va.,  August  G,  J804,  of  wounds  received 

at  Drury's  Bluff. 
Kubler,  John  F.,  Sergeant,  3d  regiment  heavy  artillery,  Co.  B.     Died 

at  Sanitary  Commission  Hospital,  Washington,  November  13,  18G4. 

Grave  in  Rural  Cemetery. 
Lally,  Michael,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  A.     Died  of  vrounds  at  Win- 
chester, Va.,  November  7,  18G4. 
Landers,  Joseph  N.,  41st  regiment,  Co.  A.    Died  at  Baton  Rouge,  La  , 

March  20,  1863. 
Lawrence,  George  H.,  3d  New  Hampshire  regiment,  Co.  E.     Killed  at 

Morris  Island,  July  27,  18G3. 
Lawton,  David,  2d  regiment  heavy  artillery,  Co.  F.    Died  November 

15,  1864,  at  Newbern,  N.  C. 
Leavens,  James  H.,  Sergeant,  18th  regiment,  Co.  A.    Killed  at  Gettys- 
burg, Pa.,  July  2,  18G3. 
Lee,  John,  41st  regiment,  Co.  A.     Died  at  home,  June  11,  1863.     Buried 

in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 
Leraunyou,  Luther  W.,  26th  regiment,  Co.  G.     Died  at  New  Orleans, 

October  25,  18G3. 
Leonard,  Stephen  H.,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  A.     Died  September 

24,  18G4,  at  Winchester,  Va.,  of  wounds  received  September  19. 
Leonard,  Thomas  W.,  47th  regiment,  Co.  D.    Died  at  Camp  Parapet, 

Carrollton,  La.,  July  15,  1863. 
Lines,   Samuel,  24th  regiment,  Co.  F.     Killed   at  Newbern,  N.  C, 

March  14,  1862. 
Look,  Gilbert  A.,  2d  regiment  heavy  artillery,  Co.  E.     Died  In  Newark, 

N.  J.,  June  8,  1864. 
Louden,  Edward  (quota  of  Westport,)  22d  regiment,  Co.  G.     Died  at 

AudersonvIUe,  Ga.,  October  11,  1864. 
Low,  Robert  A.,  55th  regiment,  Co.  B.    Died  at  Boston,  Jan.  5,  1864. 
Lucas,  Charles  A.,  Sergeant,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  A.     Died  at 

Port  Hudson,  La.,  Nov.  30,  1863.     Grave  In  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 
Lucas,  George  F.,  20lh  regiment,  Co.  D.     Killed  at  Gettysburg,  Pa., 

July  3,  18G3. 
Luce,  Lewis  P.,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  C.     Died  at  Baton  Rouge, 

La.,  August  20,  1863. 
Luce,  Nathaniel  R.,  Musician,  Gth  company  heavy  artillery.     Died  at 

New  Bedford,  February  29,  1864. 
McDevitt,  Hugh,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  A.     Killed  at  Winchester, 

Va.,  September  10,  1864. 
McGowan,  John,  2d  regiment  heavy  artillery,  Co.  H.     Died  at  Andcr* 

sotivIUe  prison,  June  25,  1864. 


144  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Mack,  Andrew  N.,  58th  rjegiraent,  Co.  E.    Killed  at  Cold  Harbor,  June 

3,  18G4.     Grave  in  Rural  Cemetery. 
Macy,  Charles  G.,  18th  regiment,  Co.  I.     Died  at  Andersonville,  Ga., 

September  1,  18G4. 
Manchester,  William  E.,  18th  regiment,   Co.  F.     Killed  at  Bull  Kun, 

August  30,  1862. 
Marcy,  Charles,  11th  regiment,  Co.  K.     Killed  May  G,   1864,   in  the 

battle  of  the  Wilderness. 
Marshall,  Augustus  L.,  4th  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  E.     Died  August  21, 

18G4,  at  Fortress  Monroe. 
Martin,  Thomas  (of  California?)  First  Sergeant,  2d  regiment  cavalry, 

Co.  K.     Killed  in  action,  August  27,  1864. 
Maxim,  David,  Jr.  (quota  of  Worcester,)  3d  regiment  heavy  artillery, 
Co.  B.    Died  in  Washington,  March  18,  1865.     Grave  in  Oak  Grove 
Cemetery. 
Maxwell,  Luther,  8th  Maine  regiment,  Co.  E.    Died  at  Point  of  Rocks, 

Md.,  October  11,  1864. 
Miller,  Luke,  20th  regiment,  Co.  G.     Wounded  at  Gettysburg;  died 

at  Andersonville,  October  1,  1864. 
Milliken,  Albert  F.,  Corporal,  5th  battery.     Killed  at  Gaines  Mills,  Va., 

June  27,  1862. 
Morris,  William  H.,  54th  regiment,  Co.  K.     Missing  since  action  of 

Olustee,  Fla.,  February  20,  1864. 
Mosher,  Philip  (of  Raynham?)  4th  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  B.     Prisoner 

at  Gainesville,  Fla.     Died  in  hands  of  the  enemy. 
Noland,  Joseph,  25th  regiment  U.  S.  colored  troops,  Co.  H.     Died  at 

Fort  Barrancas,  Fla.,  June  16,  1865. 
Norton,  William  S.,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  A.    Died  at  New  Orleans, 

January  29,  1864. 
Nye,  Ephraim  B.,  Second  Lieutenant,  14th  battery.    Killed  at  Peters- 
burg, Va.,  March  25,  1865.     Buried  at  Pocasset. 
Nye,  Franklin,  3d  regiment  .cavalry,  Co.  C.    Killed  at  Port  Hudson, 

November  30,  1863. 
O'Brien,  Daniel  (of  Boston?)  20th  regiment,  Co.  D.    Killed  at  Ball's 

Bluff,  October  21,  1861. 
Oliver,  Charles  H.,  Quartermaster-Sergcaut,  4th  regiment  cavalry,  Co. 

B.     Died  a  prisoner  at  Albany,  Fla.,  January  6,  1865. 
Oliver,  Horatio  G.,  Jr.,  Sergeant,  4th  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  B.     Died 

in  hands  of  enemy,  at  Wilmington,  N.  C,  March  4,  1805. 
O'Malley,  Owen,  7th  regiment,  Co.  II.     Died  at  Chancellorsville,  Va., 

May  3,  1863. 
Ormond,  Patrick,  23d  regiment,  Co.  D.     Supposed  to  have  died  at 

Andersonville,  December,  1864. 
Orne,  George,  3d  regiment,  Co,  F.    Died  January  30,  1863,  at  Boston. 


APPENDIX.  145 

Palmer,  George  S.,  18th  regiment,  Co.  II.     Died  in  Farley  Hospital, 
Washington,  November  14,  1863,  of  wounds  received  at  Rappahan- 
nock Station.    Buried  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 
Pearson,  William,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  B.     Killed  at  Jackson,  La., 

August  3.  18G3. 
Peuniman,  James  M.,  32d  regiment,  Co.  G.     Died  at  Annapolis,  Feb- 
ruary 2G,  1865. 
Perry,  Oliver  H.,  157th  Pennsylvania  regiment.     Died  June  20,  1865. 
Place,  Henry,  veteran  reserve  corps.     Died  at  Harwood  Hospital, 

Washington,  D.  C,  January  18,  1864. 
Potter,  Walter  A.,  23d  regiment,  Co.  D.    Killed  at  Newborn,  March 

14,  1862. 
Pugh,  Sampson,  5th  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  D.    Died  at  David's  island, 

N.  Y.,  October  26,  1865. 
Records,  Lemuel  S.,  33d  regiment,  Co.  I.     Died  in  hospital  at  Look- 
out Valley,  Tenn.,  April  1,  1864. 
Reed,  Isaac,  18th  regiment,  Co.  A.     Died  at  Florence,  S.  C,  Septem- 
ber, 1864. 
Reichmann,  Edward,  Corporal,  47th  regiment,  Co.  D.    Died  Septem- 
ber 24,  1863. 
Richmond,  Cyrus  A.,  Corporal,  1st  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  K.     Died  at 

home,  November  1,  1862.     Grave  in  Rural  Cemetery. 
Rodgers,  William  T.,  18th  regiment,  Co.  I.     Died  September  16,  1863, 

at  Newark,  N.  J. 
Rodman,  William  L.,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  38th  regiment.    Killed  at 

Port  Hudson,  May  27,  1863.    Buried  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 
Ryan,  James  P.,  38th  regiment,  Co.  H.    Died  at  University  Hospital, 

New  Orleans,  June  4,  1863. 
Sargent,  Joseph  A.,  Sergeant,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  A.     Died  at 

Annapolis,  March  12,  1865. 
Scannell,  John,  9th  regiment,  Co.  K.    Died  of  wounds,  July  1,  1862. 
Sears,  Charles  H.,  23d  regiment,  Co.  D.    Died  at  Newbern,  January 
1,  1863,  of  wounds  received  in  the  battle  of  Whitehall,  December  16, 
1862.     Grave  at  South  Dartmouth. 
Sekell,  Isaac  W.,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  A.    Died  at  Chestnut  Street 

Hospital,  Philadelphia,  January  12,  1865. 
Shepherd,  Eugene  (quota  of  Chelsea.)     Died  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 

January,  1865. 
Shepherd,  James  P.,  18th  regiment,  Co.  A.    Died  at  West  Philadel- 
phia, July  18,  1863,  of  wounds  received  at  Gettysburg.     Buried  in 
Rural  Cemetery.  • 

Sherman,  William  F.,  31st  Maine  regiment,  Co.  C.    Died  at  Millen, 

Ga.,  October  30,  1864. 
Simmons,  Charles  H.,  6th  company  heavy  artillery.     Died  in  hospital 
at  Clark's  Point,  New  Bedford,  October  19,  1863.    • 


14G  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Simpson,  George,  20th  regiment,  Co.  G.    Killed  at  Ball's  Bluff,  Octo- 
ber 21,  1861. 
Smith,  James,  20th  regiment,  Co.  D.     Died  December  20,  1862. 
Smith,  Matthew,  20th  regiment,  Co.  D.    Died  December  11,  1862,  at 

Falmouth,  Va. 
Smith,  Michael,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  A.     Died  at  Foi't  Kearney, 

August  24,  1865. 
Smith,  Octavius  C,  Sergeant,  33d  regiment,  Co.  I.     Killed  at  battle  of 

Wauhatchie,  Tenn.,  October  29,  1863. 
Soule,  Henry  W.,  5th  battery.    Killed  at  Gettysburg,  July  2,  1863. 

Grave  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 
Spooner,  Francis,  18th  regiment,  Co.  A.    Died  at  Andersonville,  Ga., 

August  3,  1864. 
Stowell,  Columbus,  4th  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  B.    Died  in  prison  at 

Charleston,  S.  C,  October  15,  1864. 
Swain,  Charles  B.,  1st  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  K.    Died  at  Beaufort,  S. 

C,  November  4,  1862. 
Sweeney,  "William  A.,  Corporal,  33d  regiment,  Co.  I.    Killed  at  battle 

of  Resaca,  Ga.,  May  15,  1864. 
Taber,   Samuel   H.,  58th  regiment,  Co.  E.     Died  in  Danville  prison 

hospital,  August  31,  1864. 
Thatcher,  "William  H.,  6th  company  heavy  artillery.     Died  at  Fort 

Davis,  D.  C,  June  27,  1864. 
Thompson,  James,   13th  battery.    Drowned  at  Hampton  Road,  "Va., 

February  1,  1863. 
Tillinghast,  Charles  F.,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  A.    Prisoner  at  battle 

of  Cedar  Creek.    Died  in  prison  at  Salisbury,  N.  C,  June  9,  1864. 

Monument  in  Rural  Cemetery ;  it  is  not  known  where  his  body  is  laid. 
Tillinghast,  Thomas  G.,  Sergeant.  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  A.    Died 

at  Winchester,  Va.,  October  20,  1864,  of  wounds  received  at  Cedar 

Creek.     Monument  in  Rural  Cemetery;  it  is  not  known  where  his 

remains  were  laid. 
Tirrell,  Charles  F.,  7th  regiment,  Co.  I.    Killed  at  Fredericksburg, 

December  13,  1862. 
Torrence,  Abraham  P.,  Corporal,  54th  regiment,  Co.  C.     Killed  at  Fort 

Wagner,  July  18,  1863. 
Tripp,  Ebenezer,  20th  regiment,  Co.  G.    Killed  at  Ball's  Bluff,  October 

21,  1861. 
Tripp,  James  H.,  47th  regiment,  Co.  D.     Died  June  4,  1863,  at  Carroll- 
ton,  La. 
WTrlpp,  Jireh  B.,  23d  regiment,  Co.  D.    Died  in  Llbby  prison,  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  October  14,  1864. 
Tripp,  Leander  A.,  Sergeant,  38th  regiment,  Co.  H.     Died  June  30, 

1864,  at  Morganza,  La. 


APPENDIX.  147 

Tripp,  William  11.,  23cl  regiment,  Co.  D.  Killed  before  Petersburg, 
August  IG,  1SG4.     Grave  in  Rural  Cemeter}'. 

Tuclvwell,  Charles  F. ,  23d  regiment,  Co.  D.  Died  at  Newbern,  May  9, 
1862.     Grave  in  West  Cemetery. 

Turner,  Treadwell,  54th  regiment,  Co.  C.  Killed  at  Fort  W^agner, 
July  18,  1803. 

Urban,  Henry,  20lh  regiment,  Co.  C.     Died  January  7,  1865. 

Viall,  George  M.  (of  Providence?)  41st  regiment,  Co.  A.  Died  at 
Baton  Kouge,  May  15,  1863. 

Watson,  Samuel  J.,  Second  Lieutenant,  58th  regiment,  Co.  E.  Died 
at  home,  December  11,  1864,  from  want  and  exposure  in  Danville 
prison,  Va.     Grave  in  Rural  Cemetery. 

Weaver,  Norbert  V.,  33d  regiment,  Co.  D.  Mortally  wounded  at  Cold 
Harbor,  June  3,  1864.     Monument  in  Rural  Cemetery. 

Welsh,  Edward  G.,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  A.  Killed  at  battle  of 
Cedar  Creek,  Va.,  October  1!),  IS64. 

Welsh,  AVilliam  H.,  3d  regiment  heavy  artillery,  Co.  D.  Died  at  Gal- 
lop's Island,  Boston  Harbor,  September  15,  1865.  Grave  in  Catholic 
Cemetery. 

WhaloH,  Joseph,  18th  regiment,  Co.  B.  Died  May  6,  1862,  at  York- 
town,  Va. 

Whitehall,  John  D.,  2d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  I.  Died  at  Gloucester 
Point,  Va.,  March  31,  1863. 

Whitman,  Onley  A.,  7th  Rhode  Island  regiment,  Co.  I.  Died  at  Balti- 
more, March  30,  1863.     Grave  in  West  Cemetery. 

Wilcox,  Seth  A.,  Sergeant,  3d  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  A.  Died  at  home, 
May  30,  1864.     Grave  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 

Wilcox,  William  S.,  5th  battery.  Died  November  28,  1862,  at  Fal- 
mouth, Va. 

Williams,  Henry  J.,  ISth  regiment,  Co.  A.  Died  at  Sharpsburg,  Md  , 
October  17,  1862. 

Williams,  William  (quota  of  Belmont,)  55th  regiment,  Co.  K.  Died 
at  regimental  hospital.  Folly  Island,  S.  C,  August  19,  1864. 

Williston,  William  H.,  21st  regiment,  Co.  C.  Killed  at  Newbern,  N. 
C,  March  14,  1862. 

Wing,  John  A.,  33d  regiment,  Co.  D.    Missing  in  action.  May  16, 1864. 

Winn,  Hugh  (of  Fall  River?)  4th  regiment  cavalry,  Co.  B.  Died  at 
Florence,  S.  C. 

Wood,  Horatio,  Quartermaster-Sergeant,  1st  regiment  cavalry.  Died 
on  board  steamer  Ericsson,  June  25,  1862. 

Wordell,  Charles  P.,  58th  regiment,  Co.  E.  Died  in  Douglas  Hos- 
pital, Washington,  August  27,  1864,  of  wounds  received  at  the 
assault  upon  Petersburg,  July  30,  1864. 

Young,  Angus  W.,  18th  regiment,  Co.  D.  Killed  at  Fredericksburg, 
December  13,  1862. 


148  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Young,  Nathan  L.,  54th  regiment,  Co.  C.    Wounded  at  Fort  "Wagner, 
July  18,  1863;  died  at  Beaufort,  S.  C,  next  day. 

SEAMEN. 

Almy,  Thomas,  Acting  Master's  Mate,  steamer  Wachusett.    Killed  at 

City  Point,  Va.,  May  20,  18C2. 
Andrews,  Manuel.     Died  in  Marine  Hospital,  Chelsea,  Sept.  11,  1861. 
Avila,  Elisha  N.  (quota  of  Boston,)  steamer  Benton.     Killed  at  Fort 

Donaldson,  February  14,  1862. 
Bly,  Horatio  T.,  steamer  St.  Louis.     Died  of  wounds,  Oct.  17,  1862. 
Boakim,  Emanuel,  Steward.    Killed  August  5,  18G4. 
Cornell,  John  M.,  steamer  Mound  City.     Died  March  16,  1864. 
Coxen,  Edward  M.     Died  of  wounds,  July  24,  1863. 
Dandridge,  Andrew,  Cook.    Died  of  disease,  March  19,  1862. 
Francis,  Isaac,  Jr  ,  Acting  Ensign,  schooner  Matthew  Vassar.     Died 

May  18,  1863. 
Frates,  Antone.     Killed  June  2,  1862. 

Fuller,  James,  frigate  Congress.    Drowned  in  Hampton  Road. 
Gilford,  Charles  R.     Killed  at  Brooklyn  Navy  Yard,  June  20,  1862. 
Gifford,  David  S.    Died  of  disease,  February  14,  1862. 
Gould,  John,  steamer  Herald.    Killed  October  25,  1863. 
Handy,  Joshua  J.,  steamer  Augusta.     Died  1862. 
Harrington,  Jeremiah,  steamer  Rattler.     Died  of  gunshot  wounds, 

March  19,  1863. 
Howes,  Alphonso  S.,  gunboat  Sagamore.    Died  of  disease,  September 

22,  1865,  at  Marine  Hospital,  Baltimore. 
HuUahan,  Thomas  (quota  of  Chelsea.)    Died  of  disease  at  New  Or- 
leans, July  24,  1862. 
Jenney,  James  T.,  steamer  Twilight.     Died  of  disease,  March  20,  1863, 

at  Beaufort,  N.  C.    Grave  in  West  Cemetery. 
Kempton,  Silas  W.,  Acting  Master's  Mate,  steamer  Santiago  de  Cuba. 

Lost  overboard  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  March  23,  1865. 
Louis,  John.     Died  June  12,  1863. 
Lucius,  Juan.     Died  at  Brooklyn,  May  19,  1865. 
McCarty,  John.     Died  of  disease,  December  8,  1862. 
Milan,  Michael,  frigate  Congress.    Killed  in  Hampton  Road,  March  17, 

1862. 
Milliken,  Charles  E.,  First  Class  Boy.    Killed  in  Mobile  Bay,  August 

25,  1864. 
MuUany,  Philip.    Died  from  casualty,  January  26,  1864. 
Nugent,  Robert  N.     Died  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  December  6,  1863. 
O'Neil,  Cornelius.     Lost  in  steamer  Cincinnati,  March  27,  1863. 
Ottiwell,  Nathaniel  D.,   Acting  Master's  Mate,  steamer  Cambridge. 

Died  oflf  Cape  Lookout,  September  27,  1861.    Buried  at  sea.    Monu- 
«  ment  in  Rural  Cemetery. 


APPENDIX.  l49 

Parnell,  James  E.,  steamer  Romeo.    Died  August  13,  1863,  on  board 

hospital-ship  Red  Rover. 
Peirce,  John  A.     Perished  on  board  the  Cumberland  in  Hampton  Eoad, 

March  8,  1862.     Grave  in  Rural  Cemetery. 
Phillips,  Edward.    -Died  in  Marine  Hospital,  Chelsea,  Dec.  19,  1861. 
Rogers,  Reuben  G.     Died  of  disease,  September  20,  1862. 
Scott,  John.     Died  of  disease,  November  20,  1861. 
Standish,  William  D.,  steamer  Meteor.     Died  October  1,  1864. 
Taber,  Daniel  G.     Blown  up  in  the  Tecumseh,  in  Mobile  Bay,  August 

5,  18G4. 
Taber,  John  C,  First  Class  Boy,  ship  Ohio.     Died  of  disease,  May  8, 

1864.     Grave  iu  Rural  Cemetery. 
Thompson,  William.     Died  May  27,  1863. 
Warren,  Alvern   S.,  steamer  Santiago  de  Cuba.    Died  of  wounds  at 

Norfolk,  Va.,  June  18,  1865. 
West,  William  A.     Died  April  15,  1863. 
Wordell,  Gardner  R.,  steamer  Southfleld.     Drowned  April  19,  1864. 


XXVI. 

PUBLIC   SCHOOLS   OF   NEW  BEDFORD. 

From  the  incorporation  of  the  town  of  New  Bedford  in  1787  to  the 
year  1821,  the  free  school  was  called  the  town-school,  and  was  for 
most  of  the  period  a  school  for  the  clilldren  of  the  indigent, — a  branch 
of  the  department  for  the  support  of  the  poor. 

A  more  just  and  more  elevated  idea  was,  no  doubt,  attached  to  the 
public  school,  and  one  more  in  harmony  Avith  its  present  position, 
■when,  on  May  28th,  1787,  it  was  voted  in  town  meeting  "that  there 
be  one  person  employed  as  a  town  schoolmaster  in  this  town."  From 
1787  to  1798  there  was  annually  passed,  under  an  article  of  the  war- 
rant "  to  see  what  number  of  schoolmasters  shall  be  provided  for  the 
ensuing  year  at  the  charge  of  the  town,"  a  vote  that  "  the  selectmen 
appoint  the  schoolmasters  of  the  town,  accordiufj  to  law." 

At  the  March  meeting,  1798,  under  an  article  iu  the  warrant  "  to 
vote  a  sum  of  money  for  schooling  poor  children,"  a  vote  was  adopted 


150  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

which  wholly  changed  the  principle  upon  which  the  public  schools 
were  founded. 

A  committee  was  appointed  "to  inquire  into  the  number  of  poor 
children  in  said  town  necessary  to  send  to  school  at  the  expense  of 
said  town."  The  committee  were  William  Rotch,  Jr.,  Edward  Tope, 
Lemuel  Williams,  Joseph  Bennett,  Alden  Spooner,  Pardon  Cook,  Eb- 
euezer  Keen,  and  John  Chaffee. 

The  character  of  the  report,  which  is  not  given,  may  be  gathered 
from  the  votes  at  the  meeting  held  May  14th  following. 

"  Voted,  To  accept  the  report  of  the  committee  who  were  chosen  to. 
report  on  the  expediency  of  raising  a  sum  of  money  to  school  the  poor 
children  in  this  town,  and  to  raise  ti>:o  hundred  dollars  for  that  purpose. 

^' Voted,  To  choose  a  committee  of  eight  persons  to  layout  the 
same  sum  on  those  most  needy." 

The  same  committee,  with  one  exception,  was  appointed.  From 
1708  to  1820  this  miserable  apology  for  a  free  school  was  continued; 
the  annual  appropriations  varying  in  amount  from  $200  to  $1000,  the 
average,  after  the  setting  off  of  Fairhaven  in  1812,  being  $470. 

An  attempt  was  made  in  1811  to  raise  the  public  school  from  the 
slough  of  pauperism,  mismanagement  and  misgovernment  into  which 
it  had  fallen.  A  committee,  upon  which  were  the  names  of  William 
Rotch,  Jr.,  John  Mason  Williams,  Samuel  Rodman,  Thomas  Hazard, 
Jr.,  and  nine  others,  was  appointed  uudcr  a  vote  "that  a  plan  be 
reported  for  regulating  schools  for  the  instruction  of  children,  in  con- 
formity to  the  existing  laws  of  the  Commonwealth." 

For  many  years  the  laws  had  been  disregarded,  and  they  were  to  be 
ten  years  more,  for  nothing  came  of  the  effort  made  at  this  time  to 
depauperize  the  school. 

It  was  not  until  1821  that  the  people  of  the  town  recognized  their 
rights  and  their  obligations  in  relation  to  free  schools  under  the  laws 
of  the  State.  The  struggle  to  effect  the  change  was  earnest  and  pro- 
tracted. Twice  after  the  schools  were  established,  once  in  relation  to 
the  grammar  schools  and  once  with  reference  to  the  high  school,  were 
votes  passed  by  which  they  were  abolished. 

The  first  appropriation  was  $1200.  This  was  In  1821.  Ten  years 
after  it  was  .$5000.  In  1841  it  had  been  increased  to  $15,400.  The 
last  appropriation  under  the  town  government  was  $21,225. 

The  name  of  John  Av^ery  Parker  is  honorably  associated  with  the 
successful  effort  of  1821.  He  was  of  the  school  committee  of  that  year, 
and  its  chairman.  It  would  be  an  act  of  simple  justice  to  have  the 
"street  struck  off  from  the  name  of  the  'Parker  Street  school,'"  that 
in  the  name  an  honorable  testimony  may  be  borne  to  the  labors  of  this 
friend  and  pioneer  of  the  free  public  schools. 

Above  we  have  given  an  abstact  of  the  opening  pages  of  our  school 
history.     We  follow  it  with  the  closing.     Following  this  we  give  ex- 


APPENDIX.  151 

tracts  from  the  last  report  of  the  New  Bedford  School  Committee,  — 
a  document  iiiterestiug  for  its  valuable  information  and  for  the  con- 
trast it  presents  to  the  statements  of  the  early  records. 

KXTRACTS   FROM   THE  ANNUAL   REPORT  OF  THE   SCHOOL   COMMITTEE 
FOR  THE   YEAR    1875. 

STATISTICS   OF   TIIK  SCHOOLS. 

/.     Popiilation. 

The  population  of  the  city  is 25,876 

School  census.  May  1,  1875, 4,002 

II.     Schools. 

Training 1 

High,     1 

Grammar,     3 

Primary 10 

Country, 6 

Mill, 1 

Farm, X 

Total, 23 

///.     School  Buildings. 

Number  of  buildings  owned  by  the  city, 23 

Number  of  buildings  hired,    .   .   .  ' 2 

25 
IV.     Teachers. 

High  school, 8 

Grammar  schools 32 

Primary  schools, 42 

Mill  school, 2 

Country  schools  (including  Farm,) 12 

Special  teachers, 4 

Total 100 

V.     Scholars.     (Fall  Term,  1875.) 
Whole  number  of  all  ages,  in 

(iirls.  Boys. 

Training  school, 17 

High  school, 1:50  97 

Grammar  schools, 594  G43 

Primary  schools 890  892 


152  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

Girls.  Boys 

Country  schools, 145  150 

Mill  school, 21  1!) 

Total, 1797         1801     3j99 

Per  cent  of  attendance : 

High  school, 95 

Mill  school, 90 

Grammar  schools, 95 

Primary  schools, 92 

Country  schools, 89 

Average  per  cent,  of  attendance  for  all  the  schools  except  the  Training 
school, 93 

CENSUS   OF   SCHOOL   CHILDREN. 

The  last  legislature  relegated  to  the  school  committee  the  duty  of 
taking  the  census  of  the  school  children,  requiring  an  additional  range 
of  details  to  render  the  service  more  useful. 

The  whole  number  of  children  returned  as  being  between  5  and  13 
years  of  age  on  the  first  of  May  last,  is  4002.  Of  these,  3060  were  re- 
ported to  be  in  the  public  schools ;  216  in  private  schools ;  296  at  work 
in  the  two  large  mills ;  21  at  work  in  places  other  than  the  mills. 

These  detei'miuate  figures  foot  up  3593 ;  leaving  409  only,  or  10  1-5 
per  cent,  as  allowance  for  invalids,  for  those  who  are  detained  at  home 
to  aid  in  the  family  labors,  and  for  all  those  occupied  through  the  many 
other  contingencies,  that  in  a  city  like  this  inevitably  interfere  to  keep 
children  from  school.  The  number  absolutely  unaccounted  for,  among 
which  alone  the  friendless  or  neglected,  whose  lives  are  running  hope- 
lessly to  waste,  are  to  be  found,  is  so  small  as  to  excite  the  liveliest 
satisfaction. 

THE   EXPENDITUKES. 

The  appropriation  for  teachers'  salaries  asked  for  by  the  committee 
of  expenditures,  in  behalf  of  the  Board,  and  granted  by  the  City  Coun- 
cil, was  $56,000.  This  estimate  was  based  on  the  expenditures  of  the 
previous  year,  and  was  supposed  to  be  sufficient  for  the  current  year. 

But  there  has  already  been  paid  out  to  the  teachers  the  sum  of  850,- 
301.58,  leaving  a  balance  of  85,638.42.  The  remaining  pay  roll  of  the 
year  will  include  six  weeks,  and  will  require  the  sum  of  §8509. 
There  will  therefore  be  a  deficit  of  §2,930.58,  for  which  an  additional 
grant  must  be  made  by  the  City  Council. 

The  appropriation  for  incidental  expenses,  including  $900  lately 
granted  for  the  evening  schools,  was  §18,400.  The  estimates  were 
made  on  a  basis  of  positive  need,  and  were  divided  as  follows :  for 
salaries,  §3050;  evening  schools,  §1900;  drawing  school,  §1500; 
sweepers'  pay  rolls,  §2500 ;  books  and  printing,  §2000 ;  fuel,  §3000 ; 


APPENDIX.  153 

heating  apparatus,  $1500;  cleaning,  $800;  furniture  and  fixtures,  $800; 
miscellaneous  expenses,  $1400. 

In  studying  economy  for  the  future,  it  will  not  be  possible  to  trench 
to  any  great  extent  on  the  amount  heretofore  granted  for  our  inciden- 
tal expenses.  Ten  years  ago  there  were  only  57  separate  seated  rooms 
in  use  b}' our  public  schools;  there  are  now  88;  there  were  only  07 
regular  teachers ;  there  are  now  96 ;  and  it  is  very  evident  that  there 
must  have  been  a  large  increase  in  the  amount  of  supplies  necessary 
to  keep  these  many  teachers  and  rooms  in  good  working  condition. 
Yet  by  the  constant  exercise  of  judicious  care  on  the  part  of  the  com- 
mittee on  expenditures  in  their  disbursements,  and  the  close  scrutiny 
of  all  bills  for  goods  and  service  rendered,  every  channel  of  expense 
has  been  kept  under  so  thorough  control  that  the  per  cent,  of  outlay 
has  by  no  means  been  extended  to  equal  the  increased  demand. 

CONDITION   OF  THE  SCHOOLS. 

High  School. 

None  of  the  teachers  of  this  school  have  been  interrupted  in  their 
work  throughout  the  year  by  any  contingencies,  and  they  have  labored 
with  their  usual  faithfulness  and  success. 

The  routine  of  study,  as  prescribed  by  the  manual,  has  been  followed 
with  as  much  fidelity  as  circumstances  would  allow.  It  sometimes 
occurs  in  a  school  of  such  a  character,  that  a  temporary  departure 
from  the  dictated  order  of  study  will  better  serve  its  interests. 

Three  of  the  masters  of  the  last  graduating  class  have  entered  Am- 
herst College,  sustaining  the  examination  for  admission  very  creditably. 

The  Grammar  Schools. 

The  Fifth  Street  school  was  exiled  from  its  school-house  during  the 
first  term  of  the  last  school  year,  while  it  was  undergoing  enlargement 
and  renovation,  and  through  that  long  interval,  scattered  about  in 
temporary  quarters,  was  deprived  of  its  usual  facilities  for  its  ap- 
pointed work.  It  especially  suflTered  in  regard  to  writing  and  drawing, 
and  such  practice  in  the  study  of  language  as  depends  on  written  ex- 
ercises ;  all  of  which  were  necessarily  intermitted. 

The  Parker  Street  school  is  now  undergofng  the  experiences  to 
which  the  Fifth  Street  school  was  subjected  last  year,  and  for  the  same 
grateful  cause —  the  enlargement  and  renovation  of  its  school-house. 
The  alarm  sounded  by  the  Chairman  of  the  Board  for  1874  in  his  an- 
nual report,  and  again  by  his  Honor  the  Mayor  in  his  first  inaugural 
address,  as  to  the  danger  to  which  the  scholars  of  that  school  would 
be  subjected  in  case  of  fire,  was  too  serious  to  be  disregarded.  The 
incoming  City  Council  took  early  action  in  reference  to  the  reconstruc- 
tion of  the  house.  The  influence  we  had  anticipated  from  the  burden- 
some cost  of  the  new  high  school  house,  to  preclude  for  an  indefinite 

T 


154  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

period  auy  further  expenditure  for  scliool  accommodations,  was  not 
suffered  to  have  weight  in  this  instance.  And  a  satisfactory  plan  of 
enlargement  having  been  obtained,  a  sufficient  appropriation  was  unan- 
imously voted,  and  in  due  time  the  work  was  begun.  When  the  house 
shall  at  length  be  transferred  to  the  Board  for  the  uses  of  the  school, 
it  will  be  so  in  contrast  with  its  former  condition,  so  ample  and  con- 
venient in  its  school-rooms  and  corridors,  so  safe  in  its  three  commo- 
dious stairways,  so  well  appointed  in  its  clothes-rooms  for  both  schol- 
ars and  teachers,  and  so  admirably  capacitated  to  serve  the  general 
exercises  of  the  school  by  its  large  and  sightly  hall,  that  the  luxury  of 
possession  will  far  more  than  compensate  for  the  inconvenience  con- 
sequent on  the  process  of  reconstruction. 

The  Primary  Schools. 

There  have  been  more  than  the  average  number  of  changes  of  teach- 
ers in  the  primary  schools  during  the  past  year.  A  full  quarter  of  the 
former  corps  has  given  place  to  beginners  in  the  work ;  and  almost  the 
entire  graduating  class  of  the  Training  school,  numbering  IG,  has  al- 
ready been  absorbed  by  these  schools,  and  their  complements  in  the 
country  schools. 

The  advantages  derived  from  the  Training  school  have  therefore 
been  conspicuously  manifest.  Had  so  large  a  number  of  new  teachers 
begun  their  labors  without  any  previous  experience,  making  their 
scholars  for  successive  mouths  the  unfortunate  victims  of  their  crude 
experiments  in  learning  how  to  govern  and  how  to  teach,  the  average 
condition  of  several  of  the  schools  of  this  department  would  have 
fallen  very  low,  and  it  would  not  have  been  easy  to  tone  them  up  to 
their  previous  condition.  But  the  most  of  the  graduates  of  the  Train- 
ing school,  familiar  with  the  requirements  of  discipline  as  well  as  with 
the  routine  of  approved  study,  promptly  and  systematically  enter  upon 
their  duties  with  effective  capacity  from  the  start,  and  there  is  neither 
loss  of  time  nor  depravation  of  character.  ' 

Country  Schools. 

A  slice  has  been  taken  from  the  territory  of  our  Acu^hnet  neighbors 
and  added  to  the  city  limits  since  the  beginning  of  the  year,  that  has 
materially  increased  the  size  of  the  North  school,  so  that  it  has  been 
thought  expedient  to  appoint  an  assistant  to  the  school. 

The  schools  of  this  department,  in  general,  are  working  to  good 
advantage,  and  in  a  satisfactory  condition. 

Mill  School.    ■ 

The  census  of  school  children,  lately  taken,  has  settled  not  a  few 
vexed  questions  in  reference  to  the  children  employed  in  the  mills,  and 
taught  us  what  expectations  we  are  justified  in  forming  in  relation  to 


APPENDIX.  155 

the  Mill  school.  The  School  Committee  have  all  along  been  supposing 
that  a  much  larger  number  of  children  of  school  age  were  in  the  mills 
than  proves  to  be  the  case;  and  therefore,  that  the  Mill  school  ought 
to  show  a  far  greater  average  attendance  than  it  has  done.  But  it 
seems  that  in  the  "Wamsutta  mills  there  are  225  children ;  in  the  Po- 
tomska  only  71.  Of  the  number  in  the  "Wamsutta,  103,  or  nearly  fifty 
per  cent.,  are  between  14  and  15  years  of  age;  almost  at  the  limit  of 
our  legal  hold  on  them ;  and  it  is  scarcely  to  be  expected  that  this  class 
of  the  child  operatives  will  be  discharged  to  attend  school  as  univer- 
sally as  those  who  are  younger.  Deduct  only  half  of  them,  for  the 
number  allowed  to  slide  beyond  the  legal  limit  without  discharge  for 
another  term  of  schooling,  and  we  have  174  remaining  in  all,  from 
which  the  Mill  school  is  periodically  to  be  replenished.  Now  the  av 
erage  number  attending  the  Mill  school  is  40,  who  are  nearly  all  from 
the  Wamsutta  mills,  and  who  therefore  constitute,  as  is  readily  seen, 
nearly  a  quarter  of  the  whole  number  in  the  mills  from  which  recruits 
may  be  expected  to  be  derived.  And  a  quarter  part  is  the  very  utmost 
we  have  a  right  to  count  upon.  Of  the  25  per  cent,  of  the  children 
employed  in  the  Potoraska  mill,  numbering  18,  who  should  periodically 
be  discharged  to  attend  school,  a  few  are  to  be  found  in  the  Mill  school 
and  more  than  half  are  distributed  among  the  regular  schools  in  the 
south  part  of  the  city. 

It  would  seem,  therefore,  that  the  agents  of  the  mills  should  be 
thanked  for  the  much  theydo  towards  the  education  of  their  child 
operatives,  rather  than  stigmatized  for  what  they  neglect.  A  few  in- 
stances are  brought  to  light  by  the  census,  of  children  who  are  in  the 
mills  at  so  tender  an  age  that  it  is  a  breach  of  humanity  as  well  as  of 
law  that  they  should  be  employed  at  all.  Let  us  hope  that  there  are 
circumstances  attending  these  several  cases  that  relieve  them  of  their 
apparently  odious  character. 

The  Eveninrj  Schools. 

t 

These  schools  have  had  regular  sessions  for  1 1  weeks,  three  even- 
ings of  each  week. 

The  whole  number  of  different  scholars  in  the  Central  school  has 
been  160;  of  whom  53  were  females,  107  males. 

The  whole  number  of  different  scholars  in  the  South  school  has  been 
100;  of  whom  33  were  females,  67  males. 

The  average  attendance  on  the  Central  school  has  been  about  60;  on 
the  South  school,  48. 

The  corps  of  each  school  consists  of  a  male  principal  and  three  fe- 
male assistants,  who  have  labored  steadily  with  interest  and  success. 


156  CENTENNIAL   CELEBRx\TION . 

Music  and  Drawing. 

These  two  brandies,  once  regarded  in  the  community  as  only  the 
mere  ornaments  of  a  substantial  education,  now  held  to  be  among  its 
indispensable  requisites,  have  been  pursued  with  constant  method, 
and  results  that  give  ever  increasing  satisfaction. 

In  the  present  attitude  of  the  general  public  towards  these  seduc- 
tive pursuits,  an  attitude  of  cordial  interest  and  large  expectation, 
there  is  a  tendency  among  school  authorities  and  teachers  to  devote 
to  them  much  more  than  their  due  proportion  of  time.  It  is  quite 
certain  that  in  some  localities,  eager  for  distinction  in  these  studies, 
the  schools  are  allowed  to  follow  them  to  an  extent  that  robs  the  most 
important  branches  of  study  of  the  attention  they  require.  This  ten- 
dency the  school  authorities  of  New  Bedford  have  firmly  resisted. 
The  results  in  music,  even  in  the  limited  time  devoted  to  it,  are  ad- 
mirable; and  though  our  schools  may  not  be  able  to  present  such 
striking  evidences  of  culture  in  drawing  as  is  the  boast  of  those  with 
■whom  this  branch  is  suffered  to  be  unduly  prominent,  enough  will  be 
accomplished  to  prove  the  advantage  to  be  derived  from  its  prosecu- 
tion, while  our  minds  will  not  be  forced  to  labor  under  the  painful 
consciousness  that  much  of  what  is  gained  in  this  direction,  is  at  the 
expense  of  loss  in  another. 

The  Evening  Drawing  school  has  had  an  average  attendance  this 
season  of  between  thirty  and  forty  scholars,  and  one  assistant  teacher 
only  has  been  employed,  instead  of  two  as  heretofore.  The  character 
of  the  school  is  much  the  same  as  for  the  last  two  years.  There  are 
comparatively  few  adults  seeking  to  obtain  a  more  scientific  and  artis- 
tic knowledge  of  the  trades  they  may  be  employed  in,  the  majority 
being  made  up  of  the  sons  of  our  citizens  not  yet  old  enough  to  be 
engaged  in  business.  But  they  are  diligently  prosecuting  the  study  in 
orderly  progress,  and  in  the  end  far  better  results  will  accrue  from 
such  effort  with  such  material,  than  could  be  secured  from  the  super- 
ficial and  irregular  undertakings  of  journeymen  mechanics,  the  most 
of  whorn  have  been  found  to  be  indisposed  to  devote  the  painstaking 
labor  and  study  which  a  good  degree  of  artistic  culture  demands. 


APPENDIX.  157 

XXVII. 

THE  PUBLIC   SCHOOLS  OF  NEW  BEDFORD  IN  THE 
CENTENNIAL. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  City  Council,  January  20th,  1876,  a  communica- 
tion of  which  a  copy  follows  was  laid  before  that  body  by  the  Mayor. 

"  Enttrnattonal  !5iI)ibttion,  1876. 
"  Agency  ok  the  Massachusetts  Board  of  Education 

FOR  THE  Department  of  Education  and  Science, 
No.  25  Pemberton  Square, 

Boston,  Dec.  9,  1875. 
"  To  his  Honor  the  Mayor  of  New  Bedford : 

"  Dear  Sir,  —  At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  of 
the  Massachusetts  Superintendents  of  Schools  on  the  Centennial,  it 
was  unanimously  voted  to  designate  New  Bedford  as  one  of  the  two 
cities  of  the  Commonwealth  to  make  a  collective  educational  exhibit 
in  the  International  Exhibition  at  Philadelphia.  To  this  action  I  give 
my  cordial  approval,  as  I  know  very  well  New  Bedford's  capability  to 
make  a  creditable  showing,  and  I  trust  that  the  municipal  authorities 
of  your  city,  duly  appreciating  the  honor  implied  in  the  selection,  will 
promptly  adopt  the  measures  necessary  for  preparing  the  proposed 
exhibit. 

"  Very  respectfully  yours, 

JOHN  D.  PHILBRICK,  Agent." 

This  communication  was  referred ;  and  on  the  second  day  of  March, 
upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Committee  on  Public  Instruction,  an 
appropriation  was  made  "  to  defray  the  necessary  expenses  of  the 
proposed  exhibition  at  Philadelphia  by  the  School  Committee." 

The  School  Committee,  in  anticipation  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
City  Council,  had  already  taken  measures  looking  to  an  acceptance  of 
the  proffer  of  the  State  Centennial  Commission. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee,  December  13th,  1875,  the  subject 
was  introduced  ;  and  the  communication  to  the  Mayor  dated  December 
9th,  above  given,  was  read. 

By  a  unanimous  vote,  the  subject  was  referred  to  a  special  commit- 
tee, consisting  of  the  Chairman  (Mayor  Ilowland)  and  Messrs.  Dunbar, 
Dews,  Borden,  and  Batchelor. 

At  the  meeting  held  December  30th,  the  committee  reported  the 
following  resolutions,  which  were  unanimously  adopted. 

'' liesolved,  That  the  Secretary  be  requested  to  express  to  Hon.  J. 
D.  Philbrick,  the  agent  of  the  Massachusetts  Centennial  Commission 
for  the  department  of  education,  the  cordial  sympathy  of  this  Board 
in  regard  to  the  objects  sought  to  be  accomplished  by  the  Commission 


158  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

in  connection  with  the  Centennial  Exposition,  and  oar  purpose  to  re- 
spond to  the  appeal  made  to  us  by  interested  and  active  cooperation. 

'^  Hesolved,  That  the  honorable  position  assigned  to  our  city  is  an 
additional  inducement  to  maliC  exertion  in  the  premises  proportioned 
to  our  power. 

"  Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  five  be  appointed  by  the  Board  to 
have  charge  of  this  subject,  with  power." 

The  same  gentlemen  who  as  a  committee  had  drawn  up  these  reso- 
lutions constituted  the  new  committee,  and  immediately  proceeded  to 
perfect  their  plans  and  put  them  in  train  for  execution.  The  repre- 
sentative- exhibit  specifically  called  for  by  the  Commission  was  that  of 
"the  text-books,  reference  and  other  class  books,  philosophical  appa- 
ratus, maps,  globes,  and  all  other  illustrative  aids,  in  use  in  the  ele- 
mentary departments  of  a  city  of  the  second  class  in  population." 
The  committee  determined  to  prepare  their  exhibit  in  the  most  thor- 
ough manner,  and  at  the  same  time  to  avoid  any  superficial  and 
unnecessary  display.  The  books  were  borrowed  directly  from  the 
shelves  of  the  school-houses,  presenting,  in  their  worn  and  tarnished 
exteriors,  the  evidence  of  actual  use;  the  cases  procured  to  contain 
them  were  made  in  the  most  simple  and  substantial  manner;  the  vol- 
umes of  scholars'  work,  70  in  number,  were  honestly  composed  and 
inexpensively  but  conveniently  bound ;  and  all  the  other  articles  ex- 
hibited were  in  like  manner  drawn  from  among  the  actual  collections 
in  the  school-houses,  constituting  a  portion  of  their  ordinary  furnish- 
ing. 

In  addition  to  books,  apparatus,  and  volumes  of  scholars'  work,  the 
exhibit  contained,  — 

1.  A  chart,  3  feet  by  4  feet,  presenting  in  a  tabulated  form,  carefully 
epitomized,  the  leading  facts,  historical  and  practical,  respecting  the 
educational  position  of  the  city.  It  includes  not  only  the  organization 
and  practical  condition  of  the  public  schools,  but  also  of  Friends' 
Academy  and  the  private  schools,  of  the  Free  Public  Libi'ary  and  the 
New  Bedford  Lyceum.  This  piece  of  superior  penmanship  is  the 
work  of  Mr.  George  B.  Hathaway,  of  this  city. 

2.  A  perspective  view,  and  elevations  of  front,  side  and  rear  of  the 
new  high  school  house,  each  2  feet  by  3  feet  in  size,  executed  in  water 
color  by  Mr.  Arthur  Curaming,  teacher  of  drawing  in  the  schools,  and 
by  him  presented  to  the  School  Committee  for  this  purpose.  Also 
photographs  of  the  Parker  Street,  Fifth  Street,  and  Merrimac  Street 
school-houses,  and  of  the  Free  Public  Library,  executed  by  Mr.  T.  E. 
M.  White. 

3.  A  brief  history  of  the  Free  Public  Library,  together  with  the  cat- 
alogues of  its  books;  a  brief  history  of  Friends'  Academy;  and  a 
complete  set  of  the  annual  reports  of  the  School  Committee  from  1840 
to  the  present  time.    These  reports  and  histories,  appropriately  bound, 


APPENDIX.  159 

are  placed  together  iu  the  exhibitiou,  in  a  case  made  for  the  purpose. 
This  New  Bedford  Exhibit  has  been  pronounced  by  competent 
judges  to  be  highly  creditable;  and  as  there  is  nothing  false  or  mer- 
etricious in  its  composition,  its  success  is  a  subject  of  reasonable 
pride. 


XXVIII. 

HIGH   SCHOOL  HOUSE   DEDICATION. 

The  new  High  School  House  was  dedicated  with  appropriate  exer- 
cises September  ]2lh,  187G,  in  the  presence  of  a  crowded  audience, 
numbering  over  a  thousand.  The  exercises  were  held  in  the  hall  in 
the  third  story,  and  about  three  hundred  seats  were  reserved  for  the 
members  of  the  city  council,  school  committee,  and  other  invited 
guests,  among  whom  were  many  who  have  in  past  years  been  identi- 
tied  with  the  educational  interests  of  the  city. 

J.  Augustus  Browxell,  Chairman  of  the  Joint  Standing  Committee 
of  the  City  Council  on  Public  Property,  which  committee  has  had  the 
charge  of  the  construction  of  the  building,  presented  its  report. 

After  a  few  remarks  on  the  blessings  and  the  necessity  of  education, 
Mr.  Brownell  gave  the  history  of  the  movement  which  had  finally  cul- 
minated in  the  erection  of  this  beautiful  house.  The  matter  was  first 
brought  up  in  the  city  government  about  eleven  years  ago,  though  it 
had  been  agitated  before  by  some  of  the  citizens.  The  former  high 
school,  now  to  be  occupied  by  the  Middle  Street  grammar  school,  was 
built,  he  believed,  in  1840. 

In  May,  1865,  a  subcommittee  of  the  School  Committee  addressed  a 
petition  to  the  City  Council  for  more  room.  It  was  referred  to  the 
committee  on  public  property,  which  in  November  reported  reference 
to  the  next  City  Council.  In  March,  iSGC,  the  committee  on  public 
instruction  reported  estimates  for  a  high  school  house  to  cost  $50,000, 
and  the  report  was  placed  on  file  and  nothing  further  done. 

In  March,  1808,  the  committee  on  public  property  was  directed  to 
procure  estimates  for  the  expense  of  enlarging  the  old  high  school 
house,  and  in  June  §10,000  was  appropriated  to  pay  the  cost  of  enlarg- 
ing.   The  enlargement  was  completed  that  year. 


160  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

■  In  1873  the  School  Committee  passed  a  resolution  to  petition  the 
City  Council  for  a  new  high  school.  May  20,  the  petition  was  referred 
to  the  committee  on  public  instruction,  which  unanimously  recom- 
mended granting  the  petition.  In  October,  the  committee  on  public 
property  was  authorized  to  expend  §12,000  for  land  for  a  new  high 
school,  and  purchased  the  lot  on  which  the  new  building  stands ;  which 
transaction  was  reported  in  November,  and  the  necessary  action  was 
taken  to  meet  the  expense.  In  March,  1874,  another  petition  from 
the  School  Committee  was  before  the  committee  on  public  property, 
and  in  May  that  committee,  with  the  addition  of  an  Alderman  and  two 
members  of  the  Common  Council,  was  authorized  to  procure  plans. 
Plans  prepared  by  Lord  &  Fuller  and  H.  G.  "Wadlin,  of  Boston,  were 
reported  in  October,  and  the  committee  was  authorized  to  procure 
working  plans,  and  in  November  to  contract  for  the  erection  of  the 
building,  which  was  done,  and  contracts  were  reported  to  and  ap- 
proved by  the  City  Council  for  the  masonry,  carpentry,  heating  appa- 
ratus, and  superintendence  of  construction.  The  corner  stone  was 
laid  May  27,  1875,  and  newspapers  of  that  time  contain  full  reports  of 
the  proceedings  and  a  list  of  the  articles  placed  under  it,  which  it  was 
not  necessary  now  to  enumerate.    The  cost  has  been  as  follows : 

Land, §12,000 

Masonry  contract, $40,800 

Extra  work, 1,843     42,643 

Carpentry  contract $34,782 

Extra  work 4,712     39,494 

Heating  apparatus, 6,675 

Ventilation,    .   .   .   .  ' 2,825 

Fence  and  curbing 6,214 

Excavation  and  drainage, 2,482 

Furniture, 4,446 

Plans  and  superintendence, 2,400 

Brick  pavement, 1,350 

Incidentals, 5,536 

$126,065 

Mr.  Brownell  then  read  from  the  Standard  of  August  30th  a  full  de- 
scription of  the  building  and  list  of  contractors.  He  went  on  to  state 
that  the  committee  took  great  pleasure  in  commending  the  care  and 
faithfulness  with  which  the  work  had  been  done,  and  mentioned  spec- 
ially the  furniture  and  ventilation.  The  latter,  by  P.  Mihan,  of  Cam- 
bridge, was  on  a  plan  approved  everywhere  it  has  been  introduced,  and 
favorably  tested  by  the  committee  in  this  building. 

The  house  has  accommodations  for  336  scholars,  is  comfortable  and 
beautiful,  well  heated  and  lighted,  and  the  committee,  Mr.  Brownell 
thought,  had  reason  to  be  proud,  and  to  congratulate  the  citizens  on 


APPENDIX.  161 

this  Important  acquisition.     But  the  cause  for  congratulation  would 

be  greater,  if,  as  he  trusted,  by  its  use  the  character  of  education  is 

advanced. 

.    Mr.  Brownell,  at  the  close  of  his  remarks,  placed  the  keys  of  the 

building  into  the  hands  of  the  Mayor,  who  responded  as  follows : 

"  Mk.  Chairman,  —  In  accepting  these  keys,  the  agreeable  duty  de- 
volves upon  me  of  extending  to  you  and  the  committee  you  represent 
the  thanks  and  congratulations  of  the  City  Council  and  the  citizens  of 
New  Bedford,  for  the  great  care  and  attention,  untiring  zeal  and  en- 
ergy, you  have  given  to  the  construction  and  completion  of  this  spa- 
cious and  costly  structure  erected  by  the  bounty  of  the  city,  and  which 
we  now  dedicate  to  public  use,  for  the  promotion  of  the  welfare  of  the 
people. 

"  You  herewith  present  to  our  citizens  and  School  Committee  a 
magniiicent  structure,  situated  upon  one  of  the  finest  building  sites  in 
our  city,  bounded  by  public  avenues  upon  each  side,  well  drained, 
and  surrounded  by  spacious  grounds.  The  edifice  itself  is  one  of 
which  every  citizen  may  well  fell  proud,  artistic  in  its  architecture, 
ample  in  its  accommodations,  possessing  all  the  modern  and  most  ap- 
proved requisites  so  indispensable  to  the  health  and  comfort  of  teachers 
and  pupils. 

'•  The  citizens  of  New  Bedford  have  here  erected  a  monument  of 
their  liberality  and  interest  in  the  educational  and  intellectual  culture 
of  their  children.  It  is  also  a  fitting  recognition  of  the  one  hundredth 
anniversary  of  the  independence  of  our  nation,  a  memorial  of  the  past, 
and  a  monitor  of  the  future. 

"I  would  also  congratulate  the  teachers  and  pupils  of  this  school 
upon  being  so  highly  favored  with  such  school  accommodations  as 
these ;  and  in  behalf  of  the  fathers  and  mothers  acknowledge  a  debt 
of  gratitude  for  the  large  and  generous  views  of  public  policy  which 
have  furnished  us  this  excellent  building. 

"  As  mayor  of  the  city,  I  accept  from  you  these  keys  in  the  same 
spirit  of  magnanimity  which  has  prompted  your  committee  and  our 
fellow-citizens  in  discharging  their  duty  to  their  children  and  children's 
children  in  the  construction  and  furnishing  of  this  edifice,  dedicated 
to  intellectual  culture  and  educational  pursuits. 

"  I  shdll  in  due  time  transfer  these  symbols  to  the  appropriate  rep- 
resentative of  the  school  committee." 

At  the  conclusion  of  his  remarks  the  Mayor  introduced  the  Hon. 
Egbert  C.  Pitman,  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court,  as  a  citizen  of  New 
Bedford  who  was  an  honor  to  the  city  and  whom  the  city  delighted  to 
honor. 

Judge  Pitman  said  as  a  general  thing  he  deprecated  apologies,  but 
as  he  believed  any  person  who  is  to  speak  before  an  audience  of  the 
character  here  assembled  should  suitably  prepare  himself,  an  apology 
u 


162  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

was  due  to  his  hearers,  lie  alluded  first  to  Messrs,  James  B.  Cong- 
don  and  John  F.  Emersou,  ■who  Avere  seated  beside  him;  the  one  who, 
when  he  was  a  scholar  forty  years  ago  at  Bush  street,  often  in  his 
official  capacity  as  a  member  of  the  School  Committee,  enlivened  the. 
school  by  his  cheering  presence  and  his  quiclc  elastic  step,  and  was 
also  reverenced  as  the  chairman  of  the  Selectmen ;  the  other,  before 
the  high  school  was  instituted,  had  given  him  valued  assistance  in  his 
educational  progress.  The  two  years  he  spent  in  Bush  Street  school 
under  the  tutorship  of  David  Armstrong,  he  regarded  as  among  the 
most  profitable  of  his  life.  Two  thoughts  he  desired  to  present.  First, 
education  involves  more  than  the  preparation  of  accurate  and  finished 
scholars ;  it  produces  noble  men  and  women.  On  this  point,  special 
credit  was  due  to  Mr.  Emerson.  Second,  he  hoped  New  Bedford 
would  not  longer  delay  to  elect  some  of  its  intelligent  and  capable 
women  members  of  the  School  Committee.  It  was  incredible  that  the 
educational  interests  of  all  the  schoolgirls  of  the  city  should  be  in- 
trusted to  a  board  composed  entirely  of  men,  when  none  so  well  as 
mothers  know  how  their  education  should  be  conducted. 

John  F.  Emerson,  the  veteran  teacher,  whose  portrait  occupies  a 
conspicuous  place  in  the  hall,  was  then  introduced  by  the  Mayor,  and 
made  the  following  interesting  address. 

"Mr.  Mayor,  —  It  was,  I  believe,  at  a  religious  convocation  in  Can- 
ada, a  few  years  ago,  that  a  new  beatitude  was  promulgated :  '  Blessed 
is  the  man  that  maketh  a  short  speech ;  he  shall  be  invited  to  come 
again.'  I  have  been  invited  by  the  High  School  and  its  friends  on 
more  than  one  occasion  of  interest,  and  hope  to  be  again ;  therefore 
I  shall  make  a  short  speech.  With  your  permission,  my  friends,  I 
shall  indulge  in  a  few  reminiscences  of  ray  school  life  in  New  Bedford. 

"It  will  be  fifty  years  the  26th  day  of  the  coming  December  since 
my  first  arrival  in  your  city.  What  a  contrast  between  then  and  now ! 
But  this  is  not  the  time  or  the  occasion  to  enlarge  upon  that  contrast, 
however  interesting  it  might  be.  My  first  engagement  here  was  that 
of  an  assistant  teacher  in  the  Friends'  Academy,  under  J.  H.  W.  Page, 
Esq.,  the  principal.  That  was  the  commencement  of  a  lifelong  friend- 
ship between  us,  and  his  worth  and  success  as  a  teacher  will  be  at- 
tested by  all  those  who  had  the  good  fortune  to  be  his  pupils.  I  held 
that  position  for  two  terms  only,  when  the  first  High  school  was  es- 
tablished, and  I  was  appointed  its  master.  It  was  kept  in  what  was 
then  called  the  green  schoolhouse,  on  Charles  street.  The  number 
of  scholars,  I  think,  was  limited  to  forty,  and  altogether  it  was  a  very 
different  establishment  from  the  present  school,  with  its  costly  and 
varied  surroundings.  There  may  be  some  in  this  assembly  who  were 
my  pupils  at  that  time,  and  if  there  are,  I  call  upon  them  to  bear  wit- 
ness that  we  were  a  happy  company,  and  that  fair  progress,  at  least, 
was  made  in  school  studies.    I  hope  I  shall  be  pardoned  if  I  appear  a 


APPENDIX.  163 

little  egotistical  in  speaking  of  this  period.  I  had  had  but  little  expe- 
rience as  a  teacher,  and  was  natural!}'  ambitious  to  make  a  good  school. 
I  had  the  time-honored  Friends'  Academy  to  compete  with,  presided 
over  by  the  excellent  teacher  whom  I  have  already  named.  I  recollect 
that  at  the  close  of  one  term  there  was  one  vacancy,  and  that  the 
committee  spent  an  entire  day  in  examining  candidates  who  were 
anxious  to  secure  the  place.  A  large  proportion  of  those  first  ad- 
mitted retained  their  seats,  and  consequently  the  number  of  disap- 
pointed applicants  soon  became  large.  Another  cause  of  complaint, 
and  one  that  produced  a  strong  feeling  of  opposition  to  the  school, 
was  that  two  or  three  families  that  were  considered  abundantly  able 
to  pay  for  the  tuition  of  their  children,  secured  and  continued  to  re- 
tain an  undue  proportion  of  the  seats.  At  the  expiration  of  two  years 
from  the  establishment  of  the  school,  the  opposition  became  so  pow- 
erful that  an  article  was  inserted  in  the  warrant  for  the  annual  town 
meeting  to  see  if  the  town  would  abolish  the  High  school  and  appro- 
priate the  same  amount  expended  for  its  support  to  one  or  more  Infant 
schools.  It  was  a  sad  prospect  to  me,  to  look  forward  to  the  discon- 
tinuance of  the  school,  as  I  had  no  other  means  of  support.  I  went 
to  the  town  meeting  in  a  very  despondent  frame  of  mind.  The  cause 
of  the  school  was  advocated  most  eloquently  by  the  late  T.  G.  Coffin, 
Esq.,  and  the  opposition  was  led  by  Dudley  Davenport,  Esq.,  whom 
those  who  were  in  active  life  at  the  time  will  remember  as  a  man  of 
strong  feelings  and  indomitable  energy,  as  well  as  of  great  personal 
worth.  He  had  tried  repeatedly  for  the  admission  of  his  children  to 
the  school,  and  failed.  He  then  formed  the  resolution  to  abolish  the 
school,  if  possible,  and  his  impassioned  appeal  produced  such  an  efiect 
that  it  seemed  to  me  when  the  vote  was  taken  that  every  hand  in  the 
hall  went  up  in  support  of  his  side  of  the  case,  and  the  doom  of  the 
school  was  sealed.  Mr.  Davenport  had  no  personal  feeling  against 
me,  as  was  subsequently  shown  by  his  action  in  retiring  from  the  hall, 
when  he  accosted  me  and  said  that  he  had  heard  I  proposed  to  open  a 
private  school;  if  so,  he  wished  to  put  his  children  under  my  instruc- 
tion.    This  he  did,  and  they  remained  my  pupils  till  they  left  school. 

"I  began  at  once  what  I  continued  to  call  the  High  school,  and  never 
had  cause  to  complain  of  a  want  of  patronage.  Many  of  my  pupils 
then  are  among  the  most  honored  and  useful  of  the  citizens  of  New 
Bedford,  and  also  of  other  cities. 

"  I  was  a  member  of  the  School  Committee  for  most  of  the  time  that 
I  was  a  private  teacher,  and  remember  with  great  pleasure  my  associ- 
ation on  that  board  with  several  gentlemen  who  are  doubtless  here 
today,  and  have  always  been  identified  with  the  cause  of  education. 
I  should  do  injustice  to  my  own  feelings,  as  well  as  disappoint  your 
just  anticipations,  if  I  failed  to  mention  in  this  connection  my  warm 
friend  and  co-laborer  in  education,  Thomas  A.  Grkkxk,  Esq.     You 


164  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

all  remember  his  devotion  to  the  schools  of  the  city,  and  no  one  had  a 
better  opportunity  than  myself  to  estimate  the  obligations  of  the  city 
to  him  in  this  respect.  lie  took  so  deep  an  interest  in  the  High  school 
that  at  last  he  knew  almost  every  pupil  by  name.  If  his  life  had  been 
continued  to  the  present  time,  and  he  could  have  been  with  us  on  this 
occasion,  his  heart  would  have  rejoiced  in  the  ceremonies  of  this  ded- 
ication. 

"Another  name  will  always  be  remembered  when  we  speak  of  the 
schools.  Public  Library,  and  other  kindred  institutions  of  the  city,  — 
James  B.  Congdon,  Esq.  But  if  I  should  attempt  to  enumerate  all 
the  friends  of  good  learning  that  I  have  labored  with  in  your  city,  the 
list  would  be  too  long  for  your  patience. 

"The  graduates  of  the  High  school  for  the  quarter  of  a  century 
that  it  was  under  my  charge,  are  scattered  through  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  land.  I  meet  them  wherever  I  go.  I  never  fail  to  re- 
ceive a  cordial  recognition,  and  I  always  find  them  prepared  to  put  a 
higher  value  upon  my  services  than  I  think  I  deserve.  They  are  found 
in  the  learned  professions,  in  the  marts  of  commerce  and  trade,  and 
some  few,  at  least,  have  achieved  no  mean  distinction.  Albek  r  Bikr- 
STADT,  the  artist,  took  his  first  lessons  in  drawing  in  your  High  school. 
I  doubt  not  there  are  some  present  who  have  specimens  of  monochro- 
matic drawing  which  they  executed  under  his  teaching  previous  to  his 
visit  to  Europe. 

"  I  cannot  fail  to  remember  my  young  friend  and  former  pupil.  Pro- 
fessor Charles  F.  Chandler,  of  the  School  of  Mines,  New  York. 
My  ten  years  residence  in  Brooklyn  has  afforded  me  ample  means  of 
knowing  his  high  reputation  as  a  chemist.  As  President  of  the  Board 
of  Health,  he  holds  a  position  of  great  responsibility,  and  one  for  the 
duties  of  which  he  seems  specially  qualified. 

"Rev.  Alexander  Mackenzie,  the  son  of  your  late  townsman 
Capt.  Daniel  Mackenzie,  is  a  clergyman  of  great  worth  and  high  re- 
pute for  a  young  man.  He  is  settled  over  a  church  in  Cambridge,  near 
Harvard  College,  a  position  demanding  culture  and  varied  learning.  I 
remember  him  as  a  most  exemplary  and  painstaking  scholar. 

"I  congratulate  the  city  of  New  Bedford  oa  the  possession  of  this 
splendid  edifice  for  the  accommodation  of  the  High  school.  It  affords 
ample  testimony  to  the  taste  and  sound  judgment  of  all  concerned  in 
its  erection.  I  congratulate  the  youth  of  the  city,  for  whose  benefit 
this  lavish  expenditure  has  been  made,  on  the  increased  facilities  and 
ample  provisions  furnished  them  for  the  prosecution  of  study  and  the 
acquisition  of  sound  learning. 

"I  congratulate  the  worthy  principal  who  has  presided  over  this 
school  for  so  many  years,  on  the  success  that  has  crowned  his  labors 
in  the  past,  and  the  cheering  prospect  for  the  future,  in  the  unsur- 
passed accommodations  with  which  he  will  now  be  provided. 


APPENDIX.  165 

"I  cougratulate  the  faitliAjl  assistant  teachers  of  this  school  on 
their  good  fortune  in  being  called  to  labor  where  there  are  so  many 
omens  of  success  to  encourage  them  in  their  arduous  toils." 

AuxEU  J.  Piiirps,  of  Mcdford,  General  Agent  of  the  State  Board  of 
Education,  was  the  next  speaker.  Mr.  Phipps  was  for  many  years  a 
teacher  in  New  Bedford,  and  at  one  time  Superintendent  of  the  Public 
Schools. 

Mr.  Phipps  said  it  was  29  years  this  day  (Sept.  12th)  since  he  be- 
came Principal  of  the  Friend's  Academy,  and  12  years  since  he  left  the 
position  of  Superintendent  of  Schools.  He  said  two  of  the  most 
prominent  facts  brought  to  mind  in  this  year  of  centennial  reflections 
were  the  progress  in  the  character  of  school  buildings  and  the  in- 
creased provision  for  high  schools.  In  1838  the  valuation  of  all  the 
public  schoolhouses  in  the  State  was  $550,000,  and  now  it  was  $20,- 
000,000,  one  schoolhouse  being  valued  at  $300,000  and  another  0200,- 
000,  and  there  is  quite  a  number  worth  over  $100,000,  In  1838  there 
were  14  high  schools,  now  over  200.  High  schools  were  however  es- 
tablished in  a  very  early  period  of  our  history.  They  were  then  called 
grammar  schools,  and  were  required  to  be  of  a  grade  suitable  to  fit 
scholars  for  "ye  university."  Some  of  the  twenty-five  dollar  school- 
houses  remain,  but  they  are  in  towns  where  property  is  so  much  re- 
duced in  value  that  with  the  utmost  economy  taxes  are  very  high. 
Mr.  Phipps  also  extended  his  congratulations  on  the  character  of  the 
building,  specially  noting  the  blackboards  of  real  slate.  He  did  not 
know  of  a  more  perfect  schoolhouse. 

Prof.  Tweed,  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  schools  of  Boston, 
wa.s  introduced,  and  amusingly  contrasted  the  house  Avith  the  oue 
from  which  he  graduated  50  years  ago.  There  may  be  those  who 
grumble  at  the  increased  expenses  of  schools,  but  they  only  keep  pace 
with  the  prosperity  of  the  country.  It  is  somewhat  doubted  whether 
the  methods  of  teaching  keep  pace  with  the  houses  and  appliances, 
and  unfortunately  it  cannot  be  very  accurately  determined.  He  be- 
lieved, however,  tliat  the  modes  of  teaching  had  greatly  advanced. 

Mr.  Joiix  Tetlow,  Principal  of  the  Friends'  Academy,  spoke  of  the 
great  expenditure  for  the  High  school.  He  did  not  mean  to  be  un- 
derstood as  opposed  to  free  education,  but  the  public  has  an  immense 
demand  upon  the  school.  The  school  is  in  charge  of  the  committee, 
tiie  teachers,  and  the  public.  The  committee  should  select  teachers 
in  whom  they  have  confidence,  and  after  general  directions  should 
leave  them  alone.  Parents  and  pupils  should  consider  it  is  their  duty 
to  consider  the  teacher.  Unless  this  school  sends  out  first  class  citi- 
zens it  cannot  vindicate  its  own  existence. 

The  Mayor  then  presented  to  the  Hon.  Alanson  Bokden,  Chairman 
of  the  subcommittee  on  the  High  School,  the  keys  of  the  new  building, 
and  spoke  as  follows  : 


166  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

"Mr.  Chairman,  —  To  you,  representing  the  School  Committee  of 
our  city,  I  consign  this  building,  a  munificent  gift  from  the  citizens  of 
New  Bedford  to  their  children.  The  public  authorities  have  furnishod 
you  with  a  building  suited  to  your  wants,  and  I  have  no  misgivings  as 
to  the  wisdom  which  shall  govern  or  the  success  which  will  ever  at- 
tend the  administration  of  this  school.  And  now,  Mr.  Chairman,  in 
the  belief  that  this  magnificent  structure  will  be  found  worthy  of  the 
purposes  for  which  it  has  been  constructed,  worthy  of  the  enlightened 
teachers  who  will  impart  knowledge  to  those  seeking  information  here, 
worthy  of  the  public  spirit  and  progress  of  the  city  of  New  Bedford, 
I  deliver  it,  by  this  symbolical  passing  of  keys  into  your  charge,  a 
completed  and  perfect  edifice." 

In  response  to  the  address  of  the  Mayor,  Judge  Borden  remarked 
that  he  accepted  the  keys  not  with  unmixed  feelings  of  pleasure;  he 
felt  the  full  weight  of  responsibility  which  they  symbolized.  Happily 
for  himself,  he  expected  in  a  few  months  to  lay  down  that  responsi- 
bility. In  view  of  what  is  afibrded  for  education  in  New  Bedford,  by 
liberal  appropriations  and  from  the  Sylvia  Ann  Howland  bequest,  the 
responsibility  was  almost  too  much  to  bear.  The  school  should  be 
able  to  fit  scholars  for  college  as  well  or  better  than  any  other  in  the 
State.  He  believed  it  had  facilities  superior  to  any  other  in  the  State, 
and  hoped  to  hear  of  many  of  its  graduates  honoring  themselves  at 
Yale,  Harvard,  Tufts,  Boston  University,  Vassar,  and  Smith's  College. 
The  school  should  be  so  good  that  no  other  of  the  same  grade  can 
exist  in  the  city.  A  very  important  thing,  something  beyond  intellec- 
tual attainments,  is  intellectual  enthusiasm.  Judge  Borden  looked 
back  with  grateful  remembrance  to  one  teacher  who  inspired  his  pupils 
with  such  enthusiasm  that  nearly  every  one  would  get  up  at  4  a.  m.  in 
the  winter  to  engage  in  study.  But  this  school  is  not  all  for  college ; 
most  of  its  pupils  come  here  to  end  their  studies,  and  if  they  were  en- 
thusiastic here  their  attainments  would  not  wear  out  in  the  future  but 
would  scarcely  be  defaced.  If  the  future  School  Committees  shall  so 
manage  the  school,  the  people  will  be  willing  to  pour  out  their  thoU' 
sands  for  its  support. 

Charles  P.  Rugg,  Esq.,  Principal  of  the  High  School,  received  the 
keys  from  Judge  Borden.  He  promised  that  the  earnest  efforts  of 
himself  and  his  assistants  would  be  put  forth  to  merit  the  trust  and 
confidence  of  the  community. 

Among  the  invited  guests  present  were  Dr.  James  M.  Aldrich,  chair- 
man of  the  school  committee,  and  William  Council,  Jr.,  superintend- 
ent of  schools,  of  Fall  River;  A.  P.  Marble,  superintendent  of  schools 
in  Worcester,  and  the  superintendent  of  public  buildings  in  the  same 
city,  whose  name  we  did  not  learn. 

The  arrangements  were  admirably  made  by  the  committee  on  public 


APPENDIX.  167 

property,  Messrs.  J.  Augustus  Brownell,  William  G.  Taber,  William 
J.  Bowen,  Henry  C.  Denison,  and  George  Nelson. 

The  whole  building  was  charmingly  decorated  with  flowers.  A  very 
handsome  bouquet  on  the  pianoforte  was  contributed  by  William 
Peirce,  and  the  others  were  furnished  and  arranged  by  the  assistant 
teachers.  In  the  principal's  room  was  a  splendid  amaryllis  with  about 
ninety  blossoms,  furnished  by  Mrs.  Harry  J.  Leacli. 

After  the  dedication,  the  people  inspected  all  parts  of  the  building, 
and  much  gratiflcation  was  expressed  with  its  appearance. 


XXIX. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  NEW  HIGH  SCHOOL  HOUSE. 

[From  the  Evening  Standard  of  August  30th.] 

This  fine  building  is  now  nearly  completed,  and  the  finishing  touches 
are  being  put  on  the  painting  and  furnishings.  The  building  is  large 
enough  to  meet  all  the  requirements  of  the  High  school  for  a  great 
many  years  to  come,  elegant  in  design,  and  cai-efully  fitted  in  every 
way  for  its  destined  use.  The  Committee  of  the  City  Council  on  Pub- 
lic Property  has  the  credit  from  the  School  Committee  of  doing  every- 
thing possible  to  meet  the  views  of  the  latter  body  in  adapting  every 
detail  carefully  to  its  purpose. 

The  building  occupies  an  entire  block  of  land,  about  three  fourths  of 
an  acre,  bounded  by  Summer,  Mill,  Chestnut  and  North  streets,  a  high 
and  commanding  situation,  and  from  a  distance  it  is  the  most  promi- 
nent object  in  the  city.  Collaterally,  the  view  from  the  tower  is  ex- 
tensive and  fine. 

The  building  is  of  brick,  with  Amherst  (Ohio)  freestone  trimmings, 
and  underpinning  and  basement  window  sills  of  Rockport  granite.  It 
is  three  stories  high,  with  a  flat-topped  hip  roof,  the  slopes  slated  and 
the  flat  tinned.  The  front  on  Siimuier  street  is  95  feet,  and  the  width 
92  feet.  The  Summer  street  entrance  is  under  a  projecting  portico  21 
by  15  feet.  Over  the  centre  front  are  a  tower  and  spire.  The  brick 
are  laid  in  black  mortar.' 

In  the  first  story,  the  east  vestibule  is  16  by  29  feet,  and  opens  into 


168  CE>[TENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 

a  larger  vestibule,  which,  with  stairways  leading  up  from  entrances  at 
the  north  and  south,  cloak-rooms,  &c.,  occupies  a  space  extending  the 
whole  length  of  the  building  and  25  feet  wide.  Forty-seven  feet  length 
of  this,  in  the  centre,  is  clear  and  unobstructed.  Opening  from  this 
main  hall-way  are  two  school-rooms  at  the  east  30  by  36  feet,  and  two 
at  the  west  30  by  35  feet,  occcupying  the  corners  of  the  building.  The 
westerly  part  of  the  building  is  1C9  feet  long,  projecting  both  north 
and  south  far  enough  to  give  the  westerly  school-rooms  each  an  east- 
erly window.  Between  the  westerly  room*  on  the  first  floor  are  a 
library  IG  by  2Gi  feet,  and  a  private  room  for  teachers  14  by  26^  feet. 

The  second  story  is  like  the  first,  except  that  over  the  east  vestibule 
is  a  room  for  the  principal,  and  over  the  library  an  apparatus  room. 
The  southwest  room  is  to  be  devoted  to  philosophical  experiments, 
and  the  windows  are  provided  with  patent  rolling  dark  shutters. 

In  the  third  story  are  two  school-rooms  in  the  easterly  corners,  and 
between  them  an  ante-room  and  a  stairway  leading  to  the  tower. 
West  of  these  rooms  are  a  range  of  cloak-rooms,  &c.,  and  the  westerly 
part  of  the  third  story  is  appropriated  to  an  assembly  hall  for  the 
whole  school,  43  by  104i  feet.  The  northeast  room  in  this  story  will 
be  the  apartment  fbr  lessons  in  drawing,  and  it  has  been  provided  with 
stools  and  tables,  some  of  which  were  formerly  used  in  the  public 
evening  drawing  schools  in  Sears  Hall.  They  have  been  neatly  stained 
and  varnished.  The  adjoining  ante-rooms  are  fitted  for  the  reception 
of  drawing-boards  and  frames. 

The  basement  will  have  a  laboratory  under  the  southeast  school- 
room and  a  chemical  store-room  north  of  it,  water-closets  under  the 
west  rooms,  and  a  boiler-room,  janitor's  room,  and  coal-room,  under 
the  library  and  teachers'  private  room.  The  laboratory  has  been  fitted 
up  with  every  possible  convenience  and  the  best  style  of  apparatus 
for  the  work  to  be  done  in  the  room,  on  the  same  plan  that  was  pur- 
sued in  the  State  Normal  School  at  Bridgewater. 

The  tower  is  18i  feet  wide,  projecting  two  feet,  and  above  the  roof 
is  enlarged  to  20i  feet  square. 

The  basement  is  11  feet  high  in  the  clear  (5  feet  above  ground); 
school-rooms  in  each  story  15  feet ;  and  the  assembly  hall  17  feet  high 
at  the  ends  and  20  feet  high  for  50  feet  of  its  length  in  the  centre. 
The  tower  room  in  the  fourth  story  is  27  feet  high,  and  in  the  fifth  14 
feet.  The  height  from  the  ground  to  the  eaves  is  56  feet ;  to  the  top 
of  the  roof,  78  feet ;  to  top  of  tower,  98  feet ;  to  summit  of  spire,  139 
feet. 

The  cloak-rooms  in  the  first  and  second  stories  are  in  double  tiers  7 
feet  high,  part  of  them  opening  from  landings  half  way  up  each  flight 
of  stairs. 

The  attic,  19  feet  high,  has  only  six  small  dormer  windows,  and  will 


APPENDIX.  169 

be  uuused  except  iu  the  tower-room  and  by  the  raised  ceiling  of  the 
assembly  hall  and  such  space  as  is  occupied  by  ventilating  pipes. 

The  plans  for  the  building  were  made  by  Lord  &  Fuller  and  H.  G. 
Wadlin,  of  Boston,  and  it  has  been  erected  under  their  supervision, 
and  is  well  and  thoroughly  constructed  in  every  respect.  Mr.  Augus- 
tus A.  Greene  has  been  their  agent  to  supervise  the  work.  The  prin- 
cipal contractors  were  Dearborn  Bros.  &  Co.,  of  Boston,  masons; 
Solomon  Chadwick,  carpenter;  Ingalls  &  Kendricken,  of  Boston,  steam 
heating  apparatus;  P.  Mihan,  of  Cambridge,  ventilation. 

The  heating  apparatus  is  built  under  Clogston's  patents,  and  has 
proved  to  be  economical.  The  piping  is  arranged  so  as  to  obviate  the 
disagreeable  snapping  sound  often  heard  in  steam  heating  pipes,  and 
the  heat  is  obtained  by  indirect  radiation,  all  the  radiators  being  placed 
iu  air  flues  in  the  basement. 

The  ventilation  is  so  planned  as  to  insure  a  draft  in  the  ventilating 
flues  both  from  the  top  anc^bottom  of  each  room.  This  has  been  long 
a  difficult  problem,  the  tendency  being  to  ventilate  only  from  the  top 
by  the  levity  of  the  heated  air  when  both  registers  open  into  the  same 
flue ;  and  if  dlflerent  flues  are  used  the  result  has  been  no  better,  or 
perhaps  resulting  in  a  downward  draught  to  the  lower  register.  Mr. 
Mihan's  plan  is  to  conduct  a  tin  pipe  from  the  lower  register  through 
the  centre  of  the  flue  ventilating  from  the  upper  register.  The  vearm 
air  in  the  outer  flue  heats  the  air  inside  the  pipe,  and  thus  creates  a 
draught  from  below. 

The  inside  finish  is  ash,  white-filled  and  shellacked,  and  the  walls 
of  the  rooms  are  painted  in  delicate  grays,  drabs,  pearls,  lavenders, 
&c.,  each  room  a  difi'erent  tint. 

The  school  desks,  the  chairs  for  four  rooms  to  be  occupied  by  the 
lower  grades  of  the  school,  and  all  the  teachers'  desks  and  tables  are 
from  the  Sterling  School  Furniture  Co.,  of  Sterling,  111.  Ninety  set- 
tees in  the  hall  are  from  the  same  company,  and  are  made  with  cast- 
iron  frames,  while  the  seats  turn  up  against  the  backs  like  opera  seats. 
There  are  100  settees  of  the  common  pattern  from  the  Fitchburg  Chair 
Co.,  and  the  same  concern  has  furnished  cane-seated  oak  chairs  with 
rubber  feet  for  the  scholars  of  the  four  upper-grade  rooms.  The  Ster- 
ling chairs  are  on  bronzed  iron  frames  fastened  to  the  floor.  The 
backs  and  seats  are  of  cherry  slats,  and  the  seats  lift  up. 

The  teachers'  rooms  and  library  are  carpeted  with  drab  and  red,  and 
the  building  contains  twelve  clocks. 

The  lot  is  surrounded  with  heavy  granite  curbing  and  posts,  and  is 
to  have  a  wrought-iron  fence. 

In  the  belfry  at  the  top  of  the  tower  is  a  heavy  fire  alarm  bell  struck 
by  the  telegraphic  apparatus. 
V 


170 


CENTENNIAL    CELEBRATION. 


XXX. 


FINANCES   AND   TAXATION. 


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APPENDIX.  171 

APPROPRIATIONS    OF   THE    CITY    OF   NEW   BEDFORD    FOR   THE   TEAR 
ENDING    MARCH    1  ST,    1877. 

Support  of  public  schools,  (pay  of  teachers,) $56,000.00 

"                   "              (iacideatals,) 17,500.00 

Repairs  of  highways, $10,000 

"         streets,     33,400  43,400.00 

"         public  property, 8,000.00 

Support  of  the  poor, 28,000.00 

Fire  department, 23,000.00 

Lighting  the  streets, 11,400.00 

Salaries, 11,000.00 

Police  department 31,000.00 

Water  works,  (by  ordinance,) 12,000.00 

Free  Public  Library, 3,300.00 

New  Bedford  Bridge, 2,000.00 

City  debt, 98,326.00 

Discount  on  taxes,     10,000.00 

Rural  Cemetery, 1,200.00 

Special  appropriations,  1875, 63,589.14 

Incidental  expenses, 14,284.86 

$424,000.00 

INDEBTEDNESS  OF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW  BEDFORD,  JANUARY  IST,  1876. 

The  bonds  issued  by  the  city  of  New  Bedford,  and  now 

outstanding,  amount  to §1,198,000.00 

Of  this  sum  the  water  bonds  are 700,000.00 

Indebtedness  other  than  water  bonds, $498,000.00 

This  amount,  $498,000,  represents  the  whole  indebtedness  of  the 

city  for  the  sums  borrowed  from  time  to  time  for  war  purposes  and 

for  public  improvements. 
The  city  has  no  other  indebtedness,  excepting  a  temporary  loan 

made  in  anticipation  of  the  receipts  from  the  taxes  in  October  next. 

The  public  property,  as  appraised  by  a  committee  of  the 
City  Council,  has  a  valuation  of $1,778,413.34 

The  city's  indebtedness,  as  stated  above,  is, 1,198,000.00 

Balance  of  property  over  indebtedness, $580,413.34 

The  water  works  alone  have  had  expended  upon  them,  and  are 
valued  at,  a  sum  which  is  but  about  two  hundred  thousand  dollars 
short  of  the  whole  indebtedness  of  the  city. 


172  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

The  valuatiou  of  the  water  works  is .^1,000,000.00 

The  water  bonds  amount  to 700,000.00 

The  balance, $300,000  00 

has  been  met  from  sources  which  have  not  increased  the  indebted- 
ness of  the  city. 

To  meet  the  obligations  connected  with  a  bequest  to  the  city,  a  per- 
petual annuity  of  six  thousand  dollars  in  aid  of  the  Free  Public  Library 
and  the  Free  Public  Schools  is  to  be  provided  for. 

The  debt,  independent  of  the  water  debt,  is 8^98,000.00 

In  1863  the  whole  debt  was 425,000.00 

Increase  since  18G3,  13  years, §73,000.00 

The  amount  of  the  debt  of  the  city  of  New  Bedfoi'd,  and  the  pay- 
ments to  be  annually  made  thereupon  are  shown  by  the  following 
statement. 

1876 $20,000 

1877, 30,000 

1878,  .' " 25,000 

1879, 37,000 

1880, 27,000 

1881, 25,000 

1882, 25,000 

1883, 35,000 

1884, 41,000 

1885 35,000 

1886, 35,000 

1887, 35,000 

1888, 35,000 

1889, 35,000 

1890, 35,000 

1891 40,000 

1892, 40,000 

1893 33,000 

1894 30,000 

1895, 30,000 

1896, 30,000 

1897, 30,000 

1898, 30,000 

1899, 30,000 

1900, 40,000 

1901, 40,000 

1902, 40,000 

1903, 40,000 

1904, 40,000 

1905, 40,000 


APPENDIX.  173 

1906, 40,000 

1907, 40,000 

1908, 40,000 

1909, 40,000 

1910 30,000 

^1,198,000 
The  valuation  of  the  city  foi*  the  }'ear  1876,  as  made  by  the  assessors 
for  the  purposes  of  taxation,  is  as  follows  : 

Real  estate ^12,411,200.00 

Personal  estate, 11,866,900.00 

Bank  stock, 2,472,102.00 

$26,750,202.00 
To  this  should  be  added  the  sum  of  two  millions  of  dollars  of  cor- 
poration property  taxed  by  the  State,  and  the  bank  stock  held  by  our 
residents  in  banks  out  of  the  city.  The  deposits  in  our  savings  banks 
are  about  tex  millions  of  dollars,  no  part  of  which  is  included  in  the 
city  valuation. 


XXXI. 

MAYORS   OF  JS'EW  BEDFORD. 

Abraham  H.  Howland,  1847,  1848,  1849,  1850,  1851. 

William  J.  Eotch,  1852. 

Rodney  French,  1853,  1854. 

George  Howland,  Jr.,  1855,  1856,  1863,  1864,  1865,  and  about  three 
months  of  1862. 

George  H.  Dunbar,  1857,  1858,  1873.  The  municipal  year  was 
changed  in  1857,  so  that  his  first  term  was  nine  months. 

Willard  Nye,  1859. 

Isaac  C.  Taber,  1860,  1861,  and  to  September  29,  1862.  * 

John  H.  Perry,  1866,  1867. 

Andrew  G.  Pierce,  1868,  1869. 

George  B.  Richmond,  1870,  1871,  1872,  1874, 

Abraham  H.  Howland,  Jr.,  1875,  1876. 


174  CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

All  these  gentlemen  but  three  were  born  in  New  Bedford.  William 
J.  Eotch  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Rodney  French  in  Berkley,  and 
Willard  Nye  in  Sandwich. 

Three  arc  deceased :  Abraham  H.  Howland,  Willard  Nye,  and  Isaac 
C.  Taber. 

Isaac  C.  Taber  is  the  only  one  who  has  died  while  holding  the  office. 

It  is  believed  that  eight  of  these  can  trace  their  ancestry  back  to  the 
soil  of  old  Dai'tmouth  previous  to  the  American  revolution. 

Our  present  mayor  is  the  son  of  the  first. 

George  Howland,  Jr.,  has  held  the  office  the  longest,  —  three  months 
over  five  years. 


XXXII. 

GOVERNMENT    OF    THE    CITY   OF   NEW  BEDFORD, 

1876. 

MAYOR. 

ABRAHAM  H.  HOWLAND,  JR. 


ALDERMEX. 

Ward  L  JONATHAN  C.  HA  WES. 

2.  WILLIAM  T.  SOULE. 

3.  WILLIAM  G.  TABER. 

4.  J.  AUGUSTUS  BROWNELL. 

5.  JOHN  B.  BAYLIES. 

6.  GEORGE  R.  STETSON. 


CITY   CLERK   AMD   CLERK   OF   THE   BOARD   OF   MAYOR   AND    ALDERMEN. 

HENRY  T.  LEONARD. 


COMMON  COUNCIL. 

President,  — Edwin  Dews. 

Ward  One,  —  George  H.  Freeman,  John  Wing,  Henry  L.  Dunham, 
Paul  S.  Hathaway. 


APPENDIX.  175 

Ward  Two, —  James  A.  Crowell,  Luther  G.  Hewins,  Jr.,  Charles  A. 
Case,  Lemuel  T.  Terry. 

"Ward  Three,  —  Charles  W.  Coggeshall,  William  H.  Pitman,  Augus- 
tus Swift,  James  G.  Wilson. 

Ward  Four,  —  William  A.  Beard,  Lemuel  C.  Wilbur,  Thomas  M. 
Denham,  Frederick  S.  Potter. 

Ward  Five, — Edwin  Dews,  Antone  L.  Si'lvia,  Jonathan  Rowland, 
Jr.,  Henry  C.  Denison. 

Ward  Six,  — William  J.  Bowen,  George  Nelson,  John  P.  Taylor, 
Edmund  Grinnell. 

Clerk  of  the  Common  Council,  —  William  A.  Church. 


SCHOOL  COMMITTEE. 

Abraham  H.  Howland,  Jr.,  Mayor,  ex  officio  Chairman. 

Edwin  Dews,  President  of  the  Common  Council,  ex  officio. 

Ward  One,  —  Alanson  Borden,  Henry  F.  Thomas,  Joseph  H.  Cornell. 

Ward  Two,  —  Ivory  S.  Cornish,  Charles  R.  Price,  James  W.  Hervey. 

Ward  Three,  —John  Spare,  Isaac  W.  Benjamin,  Benjamin  S.  Batch- 
elor. 

Ward  Four,  —  Hosea  M.  Knowlton,  George  H.  Dunbar,  Stephen  W. 
Hayes. 

Ward  Five,  —  Edmund  Rodman,  Lemuel  M.  KoUock,  James  L.  Sher- 
man. 

Ward  Six,  —  Isaac  H.  Coe,  Bartholomew  Otheraan,  Jr.,  Charles  H. 
Sanford. 

Secretary  of  the  School  Committee,  and  Superintendent  of  Schools, — 
Henry  F.  Harrington. 


TRUSTEES   OF  THE  FREE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY. 

Abraham  H.  Howland,  Jr.,  Mayor,  ex  officio  President. 
Edwin  Dews,  President  of  the  Common  Council,  ex  officio. 
John  B.  Baylies,  Chairman  Committee  on  Public  Instruction,  ex  officio. 
S.  Griffltts  Morgan,  Thomas  H.  Knowles,  George  Howland,   Jr., 
George  H.  Dunbar,  Warren  Ladd,  Oliver  A.  Roberts. 
Clerk  of  the  Board,  —  Oliver  A.  Roberts. 
Superintendent  of  the  Library,  —  George  H.  Dunbar. 
Librarian,  —  Robert  C.  lugraham. 


ACUSHXET   WATER  BOARD. 

Abraham  H.  Howland,  Jr.,  Mayor,  ex  officio  President. 
Edwin  Dews,  President  of  the  Common  Council,  ex  officio. 
George  Howland,  Jr.,  Henry  F.  Thomas,  Thomas  Bennett,  Jr. 
Clerk  of  the  Water  Board,  —James  B.  Congdon. 


UCSB   LIBRAKr 


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